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Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Red Roof Inn Kentland; City: Kentland Indiana; Review: This motel is very dated. While the rooms are clean, the decor is dreary and the rooms are so small that those with claustrophobia should definitely stay away. All the large rooms are on the second floor, but there is no elevator and no one to help getting luggage up the stairs. If you're a business traveler accustomed to staying in this chain, be advised that this isn't the Holiday Inn Express you're used to patronizing. If all you need is a small clean room and a cheap rate, then you'll be satisfied. On the plus side, the front desk staff are very pleasant and courteous.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton Montgomery; City: Montgomery Alabama; Review: We've chosen this Homewood Suites location on several trips through the Montgomery, Alabama, area. As soon as you open the door you are greeted and treated as a valued guest. Every staff member I've encountered has been willing to go out of their way to make our stay absolutely perfect. On this trip, we chose a suite with a bedroom with 2 beds and a spacious bath and vanity area with excellent lighting. What a nice surprise to find a ceiling fan in addition to the A/C unit. There is a separate A/C In the living area and a second TV which is perfect if you want the kids in a separate room watching kiddie shows. The kitchen is fully equipped with a full sized fridge with ice maker, a cooktop, microwave and dishwasher. We found the room to be very quiet at all times of the day. Housekeeping here will leave your room truly spotless and fresh. There is a great breakfast each morning and a reception each evening with beer/wine and lite dining fare. This hotel is skillfully managed and is staffed with folks who understand the meaning of customer service. Try Homewood Suites when you're in the area. It's right off Exit 4 off I-85. Trust me, you'll come back again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Ozark; City: Ozark Alabama; Review: I've stayed here several times this year and I'm always impressed by the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. Christine, at the front desk, can give you any local information you need, always with a smile. The rooms are spotlessly clean and quiet and the hot breakfast is always a treat. This is a terrific Hampton where you'll always enjoy your stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Prattville; City: Prattville Alabama; Review: I stay at La Quinta hotels frequently because they are pet friendly. The Prattville La Quinta has fantastic staff, comfortable beds and clean rooms; however, the decor is hideous. Picture bright orange walls, bright pea green plastic seat covers. There’s also an orange striped rug ( perhaps an homage to Auburn Tigers). Travelers are here to rest in a relaxing setting done tastefully. Still, the price is right, the staff members friendly and the location convenient. I would recommend this location for those reasons.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Asheville Tunnel Road; City: Asheville North Carolina; Review: Upon arrival my bedsheets were not fresh. Bathroom counter looked like a dirty rag had been used to wipe it down. Other than housekeeping issues the hotel is a typical Hampton. The front desk staff and the breakfast staff were great. Breakfast was good and the food area was very clean. The location of this hotel, on Tunnel Rd in the Haw Creek area, is perfect. I was less than 10 minutes from everything Asheville has to offer. My housekeeping issues may have been a fluke, so I will probably stay here again because of the convenient location. Aldo, they have complimentary internet service and free parking.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: New Orleans Marriott; City: New Orleans Louisiana; Review: We stayed two nights at the Marriott on Canal. I purchased through Priceline and saved about 75% off the Marriott website rate. Priceline lists the property as a 4 *. I think it is more like a 3*. Rooms are average in decor and cleanliness and the overall condition of the hotel made it feel dated. That being said, I felt I still recieved a great value. If I paid full price I would've been disappointed. The location on Canal gave great access to The French Quarter. I would recommed this hotel to others but not for the rate they list on their website.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Marriott s Royal Palms; City: Orlando Florida; Review: We stayed one night and exchanged points. The location is great. It is located in the Marriott World Center Complex close to the entrance to Disney. Guests have the use of the World Center amenities which we took advantage of once we arrived. The check in process was smooth. The staff was friendly and welcoming. The lobby was clean and smelled nice. They had complementary water available. Our room was close to the pool with a nice view of the golf course. The screened in deck was nice and the room decor was modern and looked recently updated. I will defiantly make this my first choice for future stays in Orlando.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Atlanta Marriott Suites Midtown; City: Atlanta Georgia; Review: We stayed here one recent night and we were happy with our room. The location on 14th is close to 75 but access in and out can be tricky when traffic gets heavy on 14th. The pool was cleanand they had plenty of clean towels. The front desk check in was smooth and quick. Parking is an additional $20+ andd the parking garage is located under the hotel. It is a little tough to navigate. Room was clean and spacious. Decor was modern. Staff was friendly. I found it a good value for the price paid. Our room was on the 19th floor and overlooked downtown. Great view in the evening.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Orlando World Center Marriott; City: Orlando Florida; Review: We really enjoyed the pool at World center. They recently finished rennovations and added an open slide, a tube slide, and a speed slide. They were all popular with kids and adults. The pool area is large and we found plenty of available loungers. Bring flop flops because the pool deck gets hot. The staff was friendly and welcoming. We had lunch poolside. It was expensive but we knew that going in. Food was ok. We just wanted the convience at the time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stone Harbor Resort; City: Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin; Review: Stayed here for business in October 2013. The resort grounds were very nice and the staff was friendly and helpful. The room is what made the resort just "ok". It was a tiny queen room. The bed was not comfortable and the pillows were too firm for me. The smell of the room was off. It was kinda floral and kinda cedar? It was strong and weird. They have multiple types of rooms and I did hear others rave about their room size and amenities. I had room 100 if you want to avoid that. The bar was great and had nice views of the bay and bridge. Nice location in sturgeon bay. Easy walk to restaurants. I'd recommend this hotel as long as you get a room other than the one I received.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Franklin; City: Franklin Massachusetts; Review: We stayed here while in town to see family. I thought the property was clean and staff was friendly. our room was a king room. Plenty of space and it had a nice bathroom. The shower had good pressure. The breakfast each morning had a nice selection of food and drink. Everything seemed fresh. i would recommend this location to a friend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Hotel Louisville Airport KY Expo Center; City: Louisville Kentucky; Review: I booked this hotel through Priceline and I was happy with the rate I received. The hotel has a nice location just off the highway and had plenty of parking. The interior is dated but seemed well maintained. Check in was easy and the front dest was friendly. The room was clean but again dated. The pool area looked nice but I did not use it. I checked out the restaurant and the prices were higher than what I was willing to pay for a meal. If I had paid the hotel rate for the room I would feel like I got a bad value but since I got a priceline rate, I felt the value was fair.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Tampa Northwest Oldsmar; City: Oldsmar Florida; Review: Stayed here for a business trip and I was happy with my accommodations. My room was clean when I arrived and kept clean by the maids throughout my stay. There are plenty of restaurants and bars within sight of the hotel. The lobby was clean and the staff was friendly. Great water pressure and plenty of hot water for my showers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Great Wolf Lodge Kansas City; City: Kansas City Kansas; Review: We enjoyed our visit and stay at GWL. The lobby was great and check in was quick. We loved our room- kids camp. The kids really liked their own area and we liked that we could watch regular tv while they were kept entertained with their own tv. The water park was a lot of fun. It was clean and had plenty of lifeguards. The rides were great and there were plenty of options. The lines were not bad and we probably waited about 5 min at the most for the slides. I felt like the trip was a good value for the money we payed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia South at The Navy Yard; City: Philadelphia Pennsylvania; Review: Stayed here for business and I was impressed with the property. The location was great for the airport or for sporting events. The lobby was spotless and check in was easy. The staff was friendly. My room was clean and modern. The bed was comfortable and the amenities were nice. The show was large and had a great supply of hot water and good water pressure. I'd recommend this hotel to friends and family going through the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Place Chicago River North; City: Chicago Illinois; Review: We stayed for two nights and I was very pleased with this property. The location in the River North is excellent. Plenty of restaurants and bars nearby. There is a CVS about 2 blocks south. Check in was fast and easy. Everyone we encountered from the staff was helpful and friendly. The doorman (I think his name was Chris) heard me mention Lou Malnati's so he gave me some coupons. I was impressed that he picked up on that detail. The hotel is modern and clean. We had a double room. The beds were comfortable, the bathroom was clean and well stocked, everything was in great condition in the room. The room has a large window and the black out shades work well. The downside is the fire station across the street. It was pretty active one of the two nights. They do supply earplugs. It's not the hotels fault that emergencies happen around the city so I won't subtract from my rating. I did not try the breakfast but it did look good. Wifi was great in our room. I would recommend this property to friends and family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Eagle Pass; City: Eagle Pass Texas; Review: I've stayed here twice in the past 6 weeks. The property is clean and easy to access. Check in was quick and simple. Stayed once on the top floor and had no complaints. Decent water pressure and the room was clean. Stayed in room 101 the second time. Nice room- more of a 2 room suite. Lots of space. Room was clean and I had no complaints. They have a happy hour on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with bottled beer and snacks. It was a nice touch. I'd stay he again if I'm in the area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard by Marriott Basking Ridge; City: Basking Ridge New Jersey; Review: Stayed here for business and was happy with my stay. Check in was quick and the lobby was nice. They have a nice bar adjacent to the lobby. The room was clean. Typical decor for a courtyard property. Price for room was high but seemed on par with other properties in the area. Only complaint would be access to northbound martinsville road required a uturn after traveling south. No big deal.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Bridgewater; City: Bridgewater New Jersey; Review: Enjoyed my stay here. Easy access to the property, plenty of parking, and lots nearby. Check in was quick and easy. Room was clean and had typical decor for this type of property. Good water pressure. Nice bar near the lobby. Great cookies! Staff was friendly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Complete I Ching 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Translation by Taoist Master Alfred Huang; Author: Taoist Master Alfred Huang; Review: I think this version will always be essential reading for I Ching students. The pictographs speak to me more than you would think. The author has done his best to improve the english translation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Robert B. Parker's Lullaby (Spenser); Author: Visit Amazon's Ace Atkins Page; Review: It was almost as good as Robert B. Parker. Spencer lives on. Some characterization of for example Hawk and Quirk could have been done more true to tradition.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: One Fearful Yellow Eye; Author: Visit Amazon's John D. MacDonald Page; Review: Almost all of John D. MCDONALD'S books are great, whether they are Travis Mcgee or another masculine character reminiscent of a Ernest Hemmingway. This was not his best effort. I prefer "The Green Ripper." However, it was worth the price and I will always treasure it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Profits Of Religion; Author: Visit Amazon's Upton Sinclair Page; Review: Upton has collected data and experiences in the best traditons of journalism. Not to mention his own experiences.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Satanic Narratives: A Modern Satanic Bible; Author: Visit Amazon's Damien Ba'al Page; Review: Good basic info. Not sure of author's motivations. Energy was okay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: RAMPAGE PRODUCTS 39223 Universal Truck Bench Seat Console, Charcoal; Brand: RAMPAGE PRODUCTS; Review: Nice storage center. I was only looking for an armrest and cup holder. This fits the bill perfectly. I am pleased with the console.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GG&G CLAYMORE HITCH Cover; Brand: G&G; Review: Looks great. Most of my friends and I are veterans so it brings a smile when I drive my old Dodge in with this mounted on the back. I wasn't about to pay $10 extra just to have the yellow letters. I bought some window paint and bam...Looks better than the others. Washes off if I change my mind. It has lasted thru several rain storms so far and still looks good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KeylessOption Keyless Entry Remote Car Key Fob Replacement for CWTWB1U343, CWTWB1U313, LHJ002; Brand: KeylessOption; Review: Very easy to program. Literally took seconds and it was working. I would definitely recommend this product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Custom Accessories 16261 Chrome Skull Style Steering Wheel Spinner; Brand: Custom Accessories; Review: Yes it's plastic but it's very solid. I have an old Dodge pick up that I installed this on. The steering wheels of old were pretty skinny so it kinda moved around a bit so I had to build up the foundation a bit. After that it worked as advertised. It should work on newer models without problem.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cocoweb Chrome C-Lock Heavy Duty Locking 5/8" Inch Hitch Pin with Weather Guard Protection - HHLCL; Brand: Cocoweb; Review: Nice chrome finish and is holding up in the weather. What else can I say.....It works; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mini Me Peeking Bird Finger decal sticker for car truck suv van xbox ps4; Brand: Sticky Dude; Review: Awful!!!! Looks nothing like the picture.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Custom Accessories 16115 Black 8-Ball Style Valve Cap; Brand: Custom Accessories; Review: They're plastic but they still look good so far. They screw on just like any other valve stem cap.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: U.A.A. INC. SC-102B-GR Polyester Back Bench Seat Cover Headrest Covers -Gray; Brand: U.A.A. INC.; Review: The cover arrived on time and in good condition. I bought this for my 65 Chevelle. The car sat in a field uncovered for well over 20 years so the interior is shot. I removed the rear seat to make it easier to attach the cover. I live in the high desert so I started early in the morning to beat the heat. All in all counting removing and installing the seat and a run to the local car wash to vacuum out under the seat base it took less than an hour. The cover is a 2 piece and does not cover the back side of the seat. In my case this was what I was looking for. The straps that tighten the cover are durable and did not tear while stretching the material. The hooks are a little small but work easily and should last. The difference, I feel, is dramatic. The dark mark running across the back is just water that was on the patio table when I flipped it over to adjust the cover. With 100 degree temperatures coming I didn't wait for it to dry before taking the picture. For less than $15 who can complain? Obviously the first 2 photos are the "before" and the last is the "after"; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: We're Screwed 2016 - 8-3/4" x 2-3/4" - Vinyl Die Cut Decal/ Bumper Sticker For Windows, Cars, Trucks, Laptops,; Brand: Sign Depot; Review: This is the only political sstickeri have ever purchased. I get tons of compliments and everyone understands. I'm going to write in Dwayne Johnson. The Rock for president. The People's President. Haha; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Tarascon Pediatric Outpatient Pocketbook; Author: Stephanie L. D'Augustine; Review: This little book is very good, concise, even when i saw the picture in amazon, I tough that it was bigger but beside from the letters that are too small for my taste, it's a very good little book for the price.specially when you need something quick.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonas Jonasson Page; Review: The book is very funny,the stories give you an inside view of different political systems, but also include a lot about human nature,power,money and lots more. When you start reading, you won't stop until you get to the last page. I enjoyed the book a lot and I'm about to start "the girl that save the king of sweden.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The White Coat Investor: A Doctor's Guide To Personal Finance And Investing; Author: Visit Amazon's James M Dahle MD Page; Review: In the last 4 weeks,I ve red RICH DAD,POOR DAD, THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER And This book. Each of these last 3 books are very good in their own way. But I did not realize how much there were to learn about finance in this system. Your book open my mind to look for more information and learn more. I like the fact that you are a doctor and know what other doctors go through. THANK YOU.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises; Author: Visit Amazon's Fredrik Backman Page; Review: Very light and deep at the same time. I love Fredrick Backman style of telling funny stories with life lessons hidden in them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy; Author: Sheryl Sandberg; Adam Grant; Review: It is a very personal story but at the same time universal, very touching, sad sometimes,and a lot to learn from this inevitable human experience.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: El viejo y el mar / The Old Man and the Sea (Spanish Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Ernest Hemingway Page; Review: Like the old man and the sea, even there were lot of details about fishing that i did not completely get.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin Hart Page; Review: It is always to learn about the struggle that some famous people go through before they made it to where they are. Lot of life lessons that can be used by anybody. I like the way he own his mistakes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI; Author: Visit Amazon's David Grann Page; Review: It is a very sad story, an other dark chapter in American history. Human's voracity and ambitions really has no limit."How do you marry someone, has kids with this person while you are killing their sisters,mother and plotting to kill your own wife"?HOW? Each story is more sad than the other. But one of the reason of all this killing was the system of guardianship instituted by the government. Who on earth gave these people, white people at the time,the right to declare an other adult human being no competent to take care of himself or money? During my lecture,I got sad, but a lot of time, I was also mad....by the way, nobody will care for you better than yourself.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Isikoff Page; Review: Very insightful. Lots of messing up (Putin,Trump,Obama,Hillary,Comey=FBI,Facebook,Twitter). This is the first part of the story, R. Mueller 's investigation will shade some more light. May God save America. Democracy needs to be protected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment; Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Harvey Page; Review: First of all,the book is full of good advices. also can help improve relationships in many ways . I found the chapter 15 the funniest. I also love and respect how he talks about Marjorie. I would say that not everything in the book should be taken like the holy scripture. There are some generalizations that not everybody will fit in. Easy read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea; Author: Visit Amazon's Masaji Ishikawa Page; Review: The cruelty of man has no limit. The accounts are so painful that they make my heart shrinks. But i was glad to see there were good,decent humain beings in his trajectory even in the darkest place and times. The main reason why i wanted to finish the book quickly was to see if he was able to help any of his family members. Sadly that's not the case.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Power of Habit, the (Lib)(CD); Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Duhigg Page; Review: Very instructive. I like the way the author connects real life stories to the researchs, to the scientific studies to make his points. A great book for anyone that would like to improve any aspect of their life. Personally, i think that you don't need to be an alcoholic,pathological gambler or have any other addiction to take advantage of this book. It can be used just to add good habits to our life. Hopefully, his other book " Smarter, Faster Better" is as good as this one. Thank you mr. Charles Duhigg.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: OXO Good Grips 1-Cup Angled Measuring Cup; Brand: OXO; Review: This measuring cup is great! Can see from the top the measure I need.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Norpro Turkey and Poultry Lifters, Set of 2; Brand: Norpro; Review: Bought for Thanksgiving turkey. They worked great getting turkey out of the roasting pan.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tovolo Easy-to-Use, Angle Tipped, Dripless Baster, Large, Clear; Brand: Tovolo; Review: Great baster for Thanksgiving turkey. Would recommend for everyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DecoBros Expandable Stackable Kitchen Cabinet and Counter Shelf Organizer,Silver; Brand: Deco Brothers; Review: Stackable shelves work great in my cabinets. Gives me more room for dishes and bowls I have. Plus sturdy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ikea 701.548.00X2 Variera Pot Lid Organizer, Stainless Steel, Set of 2; Brand: IKEA; Review: I use this organizer for my numerous cutting boards. It's great because it can be expanded at large at I need or as small. The organizer would also be great for pot lids or in an office.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ellis Curtain Brissac Tailored Panel Pair with Tiebacks, 70 x 63, Linen; Brand: Ellis Curtain; Review: So hard to tell what something will look like when you order online, but the valances I ordered look beautiful on my livingroom windows. The colors look better in person than online, and accent the windows well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ellis Curtain Brissac Tailored Valance, 70 x 15, Blue; Brand: Ellis Curtain; Review: So hard to tell what something will look like when you order online, but the valances I ordered look beautiful on my livingroom windows. The colors look better in person than online, and accent the windows well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MelonBoat 3 Pack Silicone Shower Soap Dish Set, Concave Soap Saver Holder, Rectangle 3 Color; Brand: MelonBoat; Review: Wow! Wish I'd found these soap dishes sooner. I don't know how many times during a shower I had to pick the bar of soap up from the shower floor because it wouldn't stay on the shower shelf. These soap dishes keep the soap in place and clean pretty quick. I would recommend these to everyone!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: GearWrench 2756D Ignition Tester Calibrated For HEI Ignitions; Brand: GearWrench; Review: A bit tight getting in the COP boots on the 4.7 Jeep engine. But did work as advertized. I think a long ground lead would go a long way in making this MUCH more user friendly!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Timken 370247A Oil Bath Seal; Brand: Timken; Review: what I needed cheap; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timken NP114036 Wheel Bearing; Brand: Timken; Review: what I needed and cheaper than anyone; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timken NP064306 Wheel Bearing; Brand: Timken; Review: Perfect and cheap; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WeatherTech Custom Fit Front FloorLiner for Jeep Commander, Grey; Brand: WeatherTech; Review: I feel they are way to slick even dry so my wife in heels getting in wet may be an issue. Fit is superb but still worried.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Elf (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Grudge (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Speed (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hook (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Ship (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Steel Magnolias (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleeping With the Enemy (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Cousin Vinny (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy Returns (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Breakfast Club (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stand by Me (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dancing (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Net (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Good Will Hunting (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stepmom (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Daddy Day Care (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Bride (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three Men and a Baby (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Double Jeopardy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kindergarten Cop (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Village (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Phone Booth (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Game (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pay It Forward (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future Part III (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop III (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aladdin: Platinum Edition (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lion King: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beaches (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 3 (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rain Man (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wild Wild West (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future Part II (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spanglish (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eraser (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cellular (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Radio (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Fockers (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 2 (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The General's Daughter (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cast Away (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fugitive (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gothika (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: White Noise (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Upside of Anger (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boogeyman (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Bared to You / Reflected in You / Entwined with You; Author: Visit Amazon's Sylvia Day Page; Review: I have to many mixed emotions for this book. It had me crying to much & I Loved It! Bared to you: I couldn't predict anything but I predicted some things & to my surprise, I was right! I hate that I have to wait until December to see what happens next! I have already Pre-Ordered It! ~WAITING IMPATIENTLY~; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bared to You; Author: Visit Amazon's Sylvia Day Page; Review: I Loved Fifty Shades of Grey & still do but hands down you can't get any better than Gideon Cross & Eva! Sylvia Day has done an outstanding job on this book & I couldn't wait until crosstober to get the second book to find out what was going on with them. Now I can't wait until Dec. 31 for the final book. I Love that I can reread them. If you like Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy, you will definitely like this trilogy! Enjoy your books as much as I have!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Samantha Young Page; Review: Jocelyn (Joss) got on my last nerves but I Loved the whole book! It is definitely a tear jerker for us sensitive women. I would definitely reread this book!!!!!!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dark Garden: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Eden Bradley Page; Review: I have the paperback book & I could not put this book down because it was so good.... Emotional & good through out the whole book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anything He Wants; Author: Visit Amazon's Sara Fawkes Page; Review: This was a good read for all the 50 Shades of Grey & Bared to you fans...... Very, Very hot & kept you interested in the book the entire time. Read this book in 1 day, could not put it down..... Was very surprised by the way it ended & I'm looking forward to reading part 2 of this book....... Sara Fawkes - Get to writing, I want to read what's next!!!!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forbidden Disclosure (A Billionaire in Disguise); Author: Visit Amazon's Terri Marie Page; Review: The things you do for Love..... This book was free but I would have paid for it! I Loved every bit of it & no I didn't want to put it down........... It is definitely a contemporary romance story that was excellent! Thanks Terri Marie for an excellent book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Devoured: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily Snow Page; Review: This was an amazing book & I could not put it down.... I am really looking forward to the next book "Consumed"!!!!! Well Done Emily Snow please hurry with the next book :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All I Want for Christmas is You; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Mondello Page; Review: This was a great short read that I will re-read again. That's how much I liked it. They all got what they wanted & I'm sure that will end to happily ever after... :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Worth the Scandal; Author: Visit Amazon's Karen Erickson Page; Review: I absolutely loved this book. However, the ending could have been better than the last line because I'm not sure it will be if they are mentioned in the next books. This book kept me on the edge of my seat & I wouldn't put it down until I finished it. I would definitely recommend this book!!!!! Please enjoy as much as I did & will continue because this is one that I will re-read!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wait For Me; Author: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Naughton Page; Review: I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK & I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. THE SUSPENSE WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL & MADE YOU NOT WANT TO PUT IT DOWN. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK, YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!!!! THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME READING SOMETHING OF ELISABETH NAUGHTON BUT IT DEFINITELY WAN'T BE MY LAST!!!!!!!!! I LOVED IT FROM START TO FINISH...............; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Until You; Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Marton Page; Review: I absolutely loved this book. It's crazy how it's so easy to fall in love when you meet "the right one" & you are determined to let nothing and no-one keep you apart. This book is well worth the read if you like romance, drama, & action. I WILL 'RE READ THIS BOOK!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Candy Store; Author: Visit Amazon's Bella Andre Page; Review: I Loved this book, I just wanted more from it. Always follow your heart & you will find the perfect person that will Love & support you!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Samantha Young Page; Review: I would have Loved to have read more about these couples & have to admit that I was a little disappointed that I wanted more. However, I absolutely Loved it & the way Samantha kept Joss, Braden, Ellie, Adam, Hannah & the rest of the family apart of this story was awesome. I recommend this to any & everyone that Loved "On Dublin Street"! I only hope that we will hear more about each character married life, as well as reading Hannah's story! Thank You for another great book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Until I Break: A TWISTED Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's M. Leighton Page; Review: I Loved how they were able to save each other from their past. This book touched me on so many different levels to see how someone so broken can heal others but don't know how to heal their own hurt. You have to read all of it to understand it & grasp the Love behind the characters. M.Leighton did an awesome job with this one. What a story to tell!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bared to You / Reflected in You / Entwined with You; Author: Visit Amazon's Sylvia Day Page; Review: Sylvia Day does it again. I Loved everything about this book,I have to admit that she had me speechless at a couple of points in the book. I can't wait for the next book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Stranger I Married; Author: Visit Amazon's Sylvia Day Page; Review: If the Love is real & true, it want matter who is for you or against it......... Another great read by Sylvia Day that I absolutely Loved. If you Love happy endings & is very romantic, then this would be a great book for you to enjoy........; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Savor You; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily Snow Page; Review: I'm so glad that she gave Wyatt & Kyle their own story line. I would Love to read about their future progresses.... if you like the Devoured series you would Love this book as well. Another great read from Emily Snow.......; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reason to Breathe: The Breathing Series (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Rebecca Donovan Page; Review: This book is very emotional! If you are a very sensitive person, the beginning (well the whole book) is going to be hard for you to take in. I finally made it to the end & moving on to the next.......; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Barely Breathing: The Breathing Series (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Rebecca Donovan Page; Review: The book is good until you get half way through & then it get very emotional. Full of DRAMA!!!!!!!! If you read the first book, just keep reading until the end those are my plans.......; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Out of Breath (Breathing); Author: Visit Amazon's Rebecca Donovan Page; Review: I Loved the series although it is a very emotional for me but I'm glad I kept reading! No matter what obstacles you face in life, there is always a reason to breathe & someone to help you do just that "BREATHE"! Well written; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Strictly Business; Author: Visit Amazon's Aubrianna Hunter Page; Review: Another great read by Aubrianna Hunter! I would strongly recommend this to anyone who loves a good romance novel..... I will read more of her books!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deceived - Part 1 New York; Author: Visit Amazon's Eve Carter Page; Review: It all happened to fast! Could have been better written but an ok story, it just lacked so much to be honest.......; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Unravel Me; Author: Visit Amazon's Kendall Ryan Page; Review: The first book I read by Kendall Ryan & I'm glad that I read it. I plan on reading other books of hers. I recommend this book to anyone who Loves a great mystery, hot & steamy romance novel! This book was outstanding!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Into the Deep; Author: Visit Amazon's Samantha Young Page; Review: I absolutely Loved the story behind the characters. This is another great read by Samantha Young! If you liked On Dublin St you will Love this book. However, the book doesn't stop here but continues with th next book being released in 2014! I can't wait to read the next book.......; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Darkest Part (Living Heartwood); Author: Visit Amazon's Trisha Wolfe Page; Review: This was a Heartfelt book with a lot of people issues, but the one thing that I Loved is the determination they had to heal, let go & move on and I'm glad they did that together..... I Loved how serious this book was & that it still made me laugh. It was such a great read.... If you like the breathing series by Rebecca Donovan, you will like this book as well. Touching & Heartwarming with a touch of crazy!!!!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: No More Wasted Time; Author: Visit Amazon's Beverly Preston Page; Review: This book was the absolute best to me..... I Loved everything about this book, it was a great love story & it was told so well. If you liked "Until You" or "Wait For Me" this might be. Good read for you. This was the first book that I read by this author & I would read more by them! Enjoy as much as I did.....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Everything for Us (A Bad Boys Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's M. Leighton Page; Review: This was a good ending to the Bad Boys Series..... I wanted a lot more of Cash & Olivia from their point but this was a great read. I was so glad that they all found their happy ending, including Ginger! I Love Cash, Nash & Gavin!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: If I Were You: Inside Out Trilogy (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Renee Jones Page; Review: It's was hard to get into at first but as I kept reading, it finally drew me in & I didn't want to put it down. This book is a lot more of Fifty Shades of Grey than other books that I have read... I can't wait to read the next book seeing how it has grabbed my attention. I'm Loving It!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Surrender Your Love; Author: Visit Amazon's J.C. Reed Page; Review: This was really great book & has now become one of my favorites! If you like Annihilate Me, you would like this book! I can't wait to read Conquer Your Love.... An awesome read! Thank You J.C. Reed for this series.....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Conquer Your Love; Author: Visit Amazon's J.C. Reed Page; Review: Only True Love can stand the test of time!!!!!!! I so Loved this book, that Brooke was and is a hard headed somebody.... I can't wait to see what "Treasure Your Love" has in store for us! I would recommend this to all the people who felt incapable and unworthy of Love!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Claim Me (The Stark Series #2); Author: Visit Amazon's J. Kenner Page; Review: This book was & is a best seller for a reason. Absolutely wonderful Love story! Can't wait to see what the future will bring for Nikki and Damien!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Complete Me (The Stark Series #3); Author: Visit Amazon's J. Kenner Page; Review: This book was an awesome read! I just wanted more of this series. It's so easy to find LOVE but so hard to keep it. Somethings are worth fighting for and I'm so glad that they fought to stay in their bubble and didn't give up on their for one another. Although somethings in this book reminds me of the "Crossfire" series, I Loved this series just as much! I will be reading more from this author!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rush (Breathless); Author: Visit Amazon's Maya Banks Page; Review: I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did after reading the previous reviews but I Loved the book & pray that I read more about Gabe & Mia since it is a series. This was my first book that I read by Maya Banks & I plan on reading more by her.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fever (Breathless); Author: Visit Amazon's Maya Banks Page; Review: I was disappointed that this book was not about Gabe & Mia but I have to say that I Love Jayce!!!!!! This book is definitely not for everybody, it was full of hit detailed sex!!!! The story was absolutely awesome, found myself crying but I'm so glad it had a happy ending!!!!! I want more JAYCE!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fever (Breathless Trilogy) by Maya Banks ( 2013 ) Paperback; Author: ; Review: I was disappointed that this book was not about Gabe & Mia but I have to say that I Love Jayce!!!!!! This book is definitely not for everybody, it was full of hit detailed sex!!!! The story was absolutely awesome, found myself crying but I'm so glad it had a happy ending!!!!! I want more JAYCE!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Burn (Breathless); Author: Visit Amazon's Maya Banks Page; Review: This book was a great read. I Loved the ending, I was waiting for that incident to catch up with Gabe, I thought Jayce was going to beat him down again. The second book was my favorite out of the whole series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Treasure Your Love; Author: Visit Amazon's J.C. Reed Page; Review: I really Loved this book, it showed me that Love conquers all! In every relationship you face difficulties & problems but the main focus should be that you face them together! Never give up on True Love! A Great Ending, I can't wait to see what's next for Jett and Brooke!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Because We Belong: A Because You Are Mine Novel (Because You Are Mine Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Beth Kery Page; Review: I waited a long time for this book & yes good things comes to those who wait. This book was really good to me..... I wanted more of Ian & Francesco... It was a really good series & I plan on reading the other books on his half brothers! Thanks Beth Kery for amazing books! I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in romance with an amazing sex life and a lot of suspense & a lot of action!!!! Enjoy it as much as I have!!!! I Loved this one more than I did the first one!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All the Pretty Lies; Author: Visit Amazon's M Leighton Page; Review: Another Great Read by Michelle! I Loved this story it was not as steamy as some of the others but just as good if not better! I Loved the romance & the meaning behind your books! There are plenty of references & quotes that I am sure to post & tweet because I strongly recommend this book to all the hopeless romantics........ If you like The Worth It Series you will Love this series as well!!!!! I'm so glad that I bought this book & hopes that everyone else enjoy it as much as I have!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drip Drop Teardrop, a Novella; Author: Visit Amazon's Samantha Young Page; Review: There is life after death & what you believed & how you behaved will determine that life after death!!!!! This was good but to dark for me & my liking!!!!! I'm all for romance but not this kind of romance although everyone should & is entitled to Love & Happiness!!!!! Mixed Emotions about this read!!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: This Beautiful Thing (Young Love) (Volume 1); Author: Mrs. Amanda Cheryl Heath; Review: Poor editing but still a good read. I hated all the mistakes I found in reading this story but Loved the Love & Romance in this book. I can't wait to read what was & is going on with Grace, Jaden & Caden. This was the first book that I read by this Author & I will gladly read other by her!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Samantha Young Page; Review: You can't go wrong with Samantha Young! I still Love hearing about Joss and Braden but it's nice to read all about the new characters! I'm looking forward to reading the next book & After!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cade (MacKenzie Security); Author: Visit Amazon's Liliana Hart Page; Review: Cade was very different from Dane but good all the same. I just fell in love with the McKenzie and I plan on reading about all of them. I Love this storyline and how different it was from Dane. If you like action with hot steamy romance then this book is for you to enjoy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All the Pretty Poses (Pretty Series) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's M. Leighton Page; Review: Everybody needs someone that they can trust and I'm so glad that Kennedy was able to trust Reese again. This was a very good emotional amazing Love Story! In the end she got her hero in more ways than one. You can never go wrong by reading a Michelle Leighton book. If you Love reading a love story, then I strongly recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wrong Kind of Love (Young Love); Author: Visit Amazon's Amanda Heath Page; Review: I Loved this story. Although, it had some crammed eras, it wasn't as many as "This Beautiful Thing". I would read other books by this author. I really Loved the ending and I didn't think I would and I almost stop reading towards the end. I'm so glad that I kept reading. I would recommend this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hold On To Me (Against All Odds) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Naughton Page; Review: I'm so glad that she did a story about Mitch! I strongly recommend this book especially if you liked "Wait For Me"! You hear a lot about all the original characters, which I really Loved! You get to really hear all about Shannon and the awesome little girl that she is. I hope she does another one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hudson (Fixed Series) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurelin Paige Page; Review: If you Love or even like FSOG or Crossfire, you will Love this series because it was definitely a cross between the both. Some secrets can just about kill you if you ever find them out and I guess that's how Precious feels when she figures out H's secrets. I Loved the story line because as This book was similar to FSOG and the CROSSFIRE series, the mind games he plays make it so different but in a good way.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forbidden Surrender; Author: Visit Amazon's Priscilla West Page; Review: Although it was a short book, I Loved every minute of it. It was fast paced but not rushed. If you like romance with a touch of DRAMA & suspense, you will like this! I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secret Surrender (The Secret Surrender Series Book Two); Author: Visit Amazon's Priscilla West Page; Review: This was another great read and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I read that this book will make you forget about Gideon Cross and so far I would have to disagree. This is a good book but to short of a book to take the place of Gideon Cross. However it's still worth the read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beautiful Surrender (The Surrender Series Book Three); Author: Visit Amazon's Priscilla West Page; Review: I can't believe the story has come to an end! This was the longest book out of the series and they all could have been longer because it ends up seeming a bit rushed. It was good but in no ways made me forget about Gideon Cross!!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Just Like Heaven; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Bretton Page; Review: A very good book! This is the first book that I read by this author and I'm so glad that I read it. Look forward to reading more from this author!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Out of the Shallows (Into the Deep #2) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Samantha Young Page; Review: This was one emotional rollercoaster ride. Samantha Young is one of my favorite Authors and I have yet to read a book of hers that wasn't good! This book was worth waiting for and I wish that I could ask for more of Charley and Jake! Highly Recommend this book to anyone who Loves On Dublin St.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Runaway Pastor's Wife; Author: Visit Amazon's Diane Moody Page; Review: I have mixed emotions when it comes to leaving a review because as a Christian, wife of a PK, & mother of 2;I could relate to Annie on so many levels. However I feel that even as a forgiven Christian, I would have Loved to see how Annie would have handled her friend and what happened between her and her ex. This book is and was the perfect example of "All things working together for the good of them that Love the Lord"!!!!! Thankful that this book was published and is needed in this day and time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edge of the Heat (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Ladew Page; Review: A Good start to what appears to be a new series. I really liked what I have read so far and can't wait to read what happened to Craig & who is snitching! The first book that I have read from Lisa Lawdew & I so plan to read more! Enjoy reading this book as much as I have!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edge of the Heat 4 (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Ladew Page; Review: This is definitely not the end of Vivian, Emma, Hawk or Craig as you can tell by the way it ended. I really don't like it when Authors leave you hanging but I have no complaints regarding this because it gives me hope for more of them all! Please take the time and read these amazing books. I thought they were well worth the read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Night After Night (Seductive Nights: Julia & Clay Book 1) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Lauren Blakely Page; Review: I really liked this book, it kept me interested from beginning to the end. If you like erotic, romance, action, drama, and suspense then you will like this book as much as I did. Very Good plot, I'm just ready to see how their story will end. Happy Reading!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: After This Night (Seductive Nights: Julia & Clay Book 2) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Lauren Blakely Page; Review: I would Love to read more of Clay and Julia's story!!!!! Pleas write another book for them! Absolutely loved this one, another great read by Lauren Blakely and I do plan to read more by this author! If you liked Sylvia Day BARED TO YOU, then you will Love this o e as well! Happy Reading!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fall from India Place; Author: Visit Amazon's Samantha Young Page; Review: I think I just might be the only one who never wants Samantha Young 's books to end! What can I say other than I absolutely Loved this book. Another great read in the On Dublin Street Series. It was just as good as On Dublin Street and its always good to see read about all the other characters. If you haven't read On Dublin Street then I encourage everyone to read that book and then the rest of the series, they get better and better. I Highly Recommend this series. Happy Reading to you all!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Mess (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's T. K. Leigh Page; Review: I don't want to give to much away so I'll just say that I really Loved this book and I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next and when will Alexander tell her about her past. If you like FSOG then you will like this book as well. Enjoy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Tragic Wreck (Beautiful Mess) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's T.K. Leigh Page; Review: This was another good read by T.K. Leigh. However, I couldn't get passed all the similarities of FSOG that were so obvious. As a fan of FSOG, I normally don't have a problem with some references to that story line but I feel as if this was to piggy backed off of FSOG. I really wish she would have let Olivia give in a little earlier because it became quite annoying after a while and almost made me stop reading it. However, I'm glad I finished it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gorgeous Chaos (Beautiful Mess) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's T.K. Leigh Page; Review: Although I felt like I did in reading "A Tragic Wreck", I still thought it was a great read. The suspense was really good and to see how it all unfolded was great. I'm so glad that they found their HEA in the end and I look forward to reading your book that will be out in November!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Since I Saw You (Because You Are Mine Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Beth Kery Page; Review: This was the best of her books to me and I loved "Because You Are Mine" but this whole story line was unforgettable. This book kept my interest from beginning to end. I give this 2 Thumbs up as well. If you like true, hot and steamy romance with an awesome story line, then you will Love this book. Happy Reading!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Echoes of Scotland Street (On Dublin Street); Author: Samantha Young (author); Review: I Loved this book just like all the other On Dublin St. Series... I was very disappointed as always to see the story end and Love how ST got to the point and pulled you in. I hated that she stole Cole's thunder and I did not see that coming.... I highly recommend this to anyone who has read any of her On Dublin. St books, you will not be disappointed..... Great job Sam...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Empathy; Author: Visit Amazon's Ker Dukey Page; Review: This was a unpredictable book and I loved it. This was my first read by this author but I Loved her writing so much, that I will read more by her..... this is a very dark read but I Loved the storyline of the whole book. Things happen but you can't let it stop you, you have to roll with the punches. Waiting patiently for part 2!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Captivated by You (Crossfire); Author: Visit Amazon's Sylvia Day Page; Review: Another great read by Sylvia Day!!!!! This book was everything that I anticipated for it to be and I'm so glad that for once Gideon is allowing Eva to help him face his nightmares and that she is standing up to him. She is definitely not afraid of him. This book was sweet, touching and very romantic. I Loved it however, I'm disappointed in how it ended and I pray that we will not have to wait long for the fifth and final book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Captivated by You (Crossfire); Author: Visit Amazon's Sylvia Day Page; Review: Another great read by Sylvia Day!!!!! This book was everything that I anticipated for it to be and I'm so glad that for once Gideon is allowing Eva to help him face his nightmares and that she is standing up to him. She is definitely not afraid of him. This book was sweet, touching and very romantic. I Loved it however, I'm disappointed in how it ended and I pray that we will not have to wait long for the fifth and final book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hero; Author: Visit Amazon's Samantha Young Page; Review: BEST READ YET!!!! I highly recommend this to all the On Dublin St fans and anyone else looking for a great read. However, I will say that I was a little disappointed in the big secret, I felt it could have been a bit not dramatic but all in all this was a threat read! It grasped my attention from the very first line, until the end! I look forward to Samantha Young next book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pocketful of Sand; Author: Visit Amazon's M. Leighton Page; Review: This was a Great Read, I Loved it from the beginning to the end. I Loved door number one. I do not fell as though we need a door number two! I Highly recommend this book to all those looking for a great read. I look forward to her upcoming books and I do plan on purchasing them. M. Leighton rocks and I Love her books! You might not can fix some broken things but you can fix broken people!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anything He Wants & Castaway; Author: Visit Amazon's Sara Fawkes Page; Review: This was another great read by Sara Fawkes. This book is not for everyone but I highly recommend it to all that knows about BDSM in a romantic way and not in an abusive way. Very touching and romantic and suspenseful, full of life and a lot of action. It was definitely a rollercoaster ride.....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Glimmer; Author: Visit Amazon's Beth Kery Page; Review: What can I say about this book besides "Loved It"! Although, I can't help but get the feel of Dejavu reading it, almost as if I had read it before or watched this in a scary movie before. Nevertheless this was a great read and I highly recommend this any and all of Beth Kery fans. You would Love this in your collection as well. It is a two book series and Glow the second book to this will be released in December, I believe. I have already preordered and hope by some miracle that it gets released earlier. I can't wait to read it!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Always with You: Part One (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's M. Leighton Page; Review: I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE REST OF THIS STORY! I want go into details to ruin the book for others but I will say that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK! If you have read Down to you, then you will definitely want to get this one as well! More of the Bad Boys! A really great read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Strong Enough ("Tall, Dark, and Dangerous"); Author: Visit Amazon's M. Leighton Page; Review: This was another awesome read by M. Leighton, she never disappoints her readers! This was certainty a tearjerker and you will gather that from the prologue. I highly recommend this to all romance readers, especially if you have read any of her other books!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Always with You: Part Two (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's M. Leighton Page; Review: This is awesome to get more of Cash and Olivia, I don't want to spoil the book for anyone but I hope that that sneaky conniving ***** get what's coming to her and Cash and Olivia can put this behind them and move on with their life!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Always with You: Part Three (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's M. Leighton Page; Review: I can never get enough a Cash & Olivia and I'm Thankful to Michelle Leighton for giving us more of them. It's sad to see them go but I look forward to your next books as always, please write a book for Gavin!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beautiful Entourage; Author: Visit Amazon's E. L. Todd Page; Review: I received an ARC for an honest review and I must say that this was a very good read and I look forward to reading the rest in this series. If you like a Beautiful Love Story, you would Love this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gorgeous Consort (Beautiful Entourage) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's E. L. Todd Page; Review: This book was just as good if not better than book 1! I'm glad that I had the opportunity to read it, it's nothing like reading a good story. Although, I found a couple of honest editing errors, it didn't take away from what was meant as you read it! I think E. L. Todd did a very good job of presenting great romance stories! I highly recommend her books to anyone who have loved "The Breathless Triology" by Maya Banks!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Escort (Beautiful Entourage) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's E. L. Todd Page; Review: Who knew that being an escort would be beneficial. I was so happy for Cato and all the escorts of "Beautiful Entourage"! This is an amazing series and I'm so glad that I read them! I highly recommend this to all the people that have loved and lost and are not willing to give love a second chance!!!! A really good read!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Little Black Book (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Tabatha Vargo Page; Review: This book has become one of my favorites and I'm glad that I was told about it! From the very beginning of the book it held my attention & it only got better as I continued to read it! Great job from this author!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seductive Guest (Beautiful Entourage) (Volume 5); Author: Visit Amazon's E. L. Todd Page; Review: This book was so beautiful, just like the others. However there were some honest mistakes that could have been avoidable if the author went back and read her book before publishing it! Don't be to hasty to publish and not preview your own work. Other than that, this might be my favorite of all books. I find it amazing that each book gets better & better! I Love Beautiful Entourage & I look forward to the next book in this series!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Bell Jar: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Sylvia Plath Page; Review: I loved everything about this book. I especially loved The Bell Jar's symmetry... the electrocution of the Rosenbergs, and Esther Greenwood's electroshock therapy; the bird coming out of the egg in the fig tree and Esther's witnessing "a baby coming out of a woman;" A little historical context: The Bell Jar opens with a reference to Julius and Ethel Rosenberg- a real-life couple electrocuted in 1953. They were convicted of conspiring to commit espionage when they were accused of stealing Americas most precious military secret at that time- the atomic bomb- and giving it to the Soviet Union. The Rosenburgs maintained their innocence until their deaths, and were regarded as innocent and became widely celebrated martyrs. Evidence was collected that clearly indicated that Julian Rosenburg had indeed sold government secrets to the Soviets, but no such evidence was provided against his wife, Ethel. Ethel Rosenberg was dragged into the case solely to put pressure on her husband to talk, and in 2001, David Greenglass admitted to lying on the witness stand regarding her involvement. Ethyl was the first woman in this country to be given the death sentence, and Americans were horrified. Even more horrifying was that the first attempt at electrocution failed, and two minutes after it was administered, Ethyl Rosenburg was pronounced alive. A second round of electrocution was meted out and jolts were inflicted, cooking her brain, until a plume of smoke rose from her head and curled up to the ceiling fan. The semi-fictional main character, Esther Greenwood, responds to this nation-wide horror and speaks to premonitions of her own future electro-shock treatments at the books opening by saying, "The idea of being electrocuted makes me sick, and that's all there was to read about in the papers -- goggle-eyed headlines staring up at me on every street corner and at the fusty, peanut-smelling mouth of every subway. It had nothing to do with me, but I couldn't help wondering what it would be like, being burned alive all along your nerves." An interesting note is that in The Bell Jar, Esther Greenwoods first electroshock treatment was also a botched attempt. Sparked by a growing dissent within herself and a violent sexual encounter, awareness blooms that her fledgling hopes for her inert potential have been preempted; waylaid by gender-based societal expectations that fuel a growing contempt for patriarchal roles and the women who subjugate to them. As Esther wrestles with budding resentment, she engages in a dangerous, self-destructive dance, moving her closer to her impending suicide attempt.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gargoyle; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Davidson Page; Review: I have to admit that I chose this book primarily for its cover (I have a THING about not reading the synopsis inside the dust jacket; I find most fictions to be predictable,and I find "going in blind" prolongs my enjoyment.) The Gargoyle, from the first paragraph, grabbed me with a horrified fascination that was inescapable. The grotesque, vivid detail captured by the author, Andrew Davidson is contrary to traditional writing styles that draw the reader into the story in a more genteel way; the raw imagery is grippingly violent, the main character vile. I found myself absorbed to the point where I had to consciously relax my tense muscles and remind myself that I wasn't in physical pain. The true genius of this artful masterpiece is in the interweaving of several ill-fated love stories spanning across the ages with the grotesque, connecting with a breathtaking saga of modern-day redemption. Author Andrew Davidson has set the bar high for a first novel; I'll be watching him with great interest, waiting for more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Blessing Stone; Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Wood Page; Review: Having, against all good advise, judged this book by its cover, I was entirely unprepared for what I found inside The Blessing Stone. Mistakenly, I believed the book to be just another pretty face; a book that would look attractive on the shelf until I'd had my wicked way with it and disposed of its tawdry remains. From the turning of the first page until the last, this book OWNED me. I was spellbound, throughout. Barbara Wood's ability to seamlessly chronicle the evolution of human thought and conscious awareness combined with the unfolding of doctrine of early religion is cultivated in a style that is both palatable and captivating. The mystique of feminine power is a constant theme in this book, which reads almost as a collection of short stories connected by a beautiful blue stone borne from within a meteorite when it shattered upon the earth millions of years ago. The stone is regarded across the ages to be a sacred object of great power and highly desired for the the purpose of maintaining dominance and acts as a catalyst for impossible accomplishments throughout the span of history, and finally, ending in modern times.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look; Author: Visit Amazon's Jen Lancaster Page; Review: This is NOT a feminist memoir. Or is it? I'm a fan of reading books on women's issues and feminism, and I generally shy away from books that attack less-empowered women, but I have to say; Jen Lancaster's bitching definitely works in her favor. I've just finished re-reading Such a Pretty Fat, and, just like the virgin read, by the time I closed this book's cover, I felt both a vicarious giddy, ridiculous self-acceptance, and a also little smug. Such a Pretty Fat is a memoir chronicling the author's struggles with her own body image and weight loss. Jen makes repeated conflicting statements about her comfort with her own body weight, yet, throughout the book, she hypercritically projects her insecurities onto other women- women she encounters who more closely resemble the idealized feminine form. Whatever flaws she may have, this great memoir reads to some degree like a pissy note passed in high school. Jen Lancaster feels like best-friend material. She's a myriad of inconsistencies; she somehow manages to come off as both dainty and foul, self-indulgent and overly-critical of herself. It was a pleasure to share her journey through weight loss, and easy to root for her, even at her worst. I feel the need to defend her, to push the point that she is NOT a hot mess, only deeply insightful and multifaceted. This book is worth reading. TWICE. Besides, in the end, even Barbie redeems herself. Life just doesn't get any better than that.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Great Sage and a Rascal Named Doku: A Book on Health, Wealth and Success; Author: Vivek Rajan Vivek; Review: I shelved this book under "books too stupid to finish reading." A Great Sage and A Rascal Named Doku by Vivek Rajan Vivek is the author's first attempt at a novel, and is full of pseudo-eastern mysticism, only he totally got it wrong. I didn't read the whole book. I didn't even read HALF of it. I stopped reading at point in which the author expressed that it is only in giving into our base desires and materialism can we possibly achieve spiritual enlightenment and fulfillment. I can't imagine anything more absurd. Admittedly, Maslow tells us that all humans must have their basic needs for human survival met before claiming the pyramid towards enlightenment, but that's not what the author was getting at. An excerpt from the book tells us "Many highly evolved souls come from wealthy families. This has been well-documented by historical research. There was nothing wrong with wealth. Those who experienced wealth were unaffected by it, because wealth, like all other objects of desire, ceases to mesmerize you once you attain it." Really?! Historical research? Would you kindly cite your sources, sir? Because I'm calling "shenanigans" on that one. Have you never seen a badly behaved celebutante or been exposed to Miley Cyrus' twirking or any of the other shocking adult Disney princesses in action. And while I'm at it, would you mind sticking to a tense? Past or present, its all the same to me, but switching back and fourth within few brief lines is sophomoric, at best. And while I'm on my soap box, this book supposedly has no dogma or religious content, but the cover has a pic of Buddhist Mala beads. No bueno. Gaaaaah. What a waste of an advance copy.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture; Author: Visit Amazon's Peggy Orenstein Page; Review: In Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture , Peggy Orenstein attempts to justify her feminism with the of raising a daughter in realities of today's "princess culture." Ever noticed how childless individuals always seem to be experts in raising everybody ELSE'S children? After giving birth to her first child, a daughter, it would seem natural for feminist researcher and author Peggy Orenstein to put her politics to the test. She laments, "Walking around the streets of Disney, I found myself in an odd juxtaposition between intoxication with the sparkles, jewels and tiaras on the one hand, and disbelief that I was an active participant in what I had so proudly balked at in my former life. My former life being my life BEFORE children." She cleverly wages war using clearly examined research on the culture of the color pink; magnified and invented gender differences in marketing, the value of toy guns in childhood pretend-play, childhood consumerism beginning at age eighteen MONTHS, and the role Disney Princess play in children's gender-driven behavior as the Princesses evolve from the seemingly harmless Cinderella to the adult version of a Disney Princess, the shockingly sinister Miley Cyrus. Orenstein ask the million dollar question: Is all this pink really necessary? The answer? Only if you want to make money.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sparkling Gems from the Greek Electronic Edition: A Must-Have Tool for Your Computer Reference Library; Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Renner Page; Review: Rick Renner's daily devotional, Sparkling Gems From the Greek, is a thick, heavy tome that is somewhat intimidating at first glance, but don't be misled. In each daily reading, Renner offers up a daily scripture and breaks it down, piece by piece, into its original Greek translation, allowing the reader to gain a fullness of understanding that includes the nuances and inferences that don't translate well into modern American-English. Consider the word "love." In English, its meaning is limited to "an intense feeling of deep affection" Our understanding of the word "love" is limited to that of a feeling, even though the word itself appears 179 times alone in the New Testament. Japan, until the late nineteenth century, didn't have a word for love at all. The Greek language can boast five; philia, storge, eros, agape, and xenia. "Philia" is commonly translated from ancient Greek to modern English as being a "brotherly love." Philia is the dispassionate virtuous love and loyalty to friends and family, a concept that was, interestingly, developed by Aristotle. It can also mean "love of the mind." "Storge," like "Philia," occurs within families, but differentiates in that it specifies natural affection; that which is naturally reciprocated between parents and their children. Storge has been commonly defined as "motherly love." "Eros" is described passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. The Greek word, "agape", refers to a Godly, divine spiritual relationship. If in the Greek "eros" describes a physical attraction, then the Greek "agape" describes a spiritual one. The fifth and last Greek word for love is "xenia." Its meaning translates with the most difficulty into modern English, and even when translated, doesn't easily interpret into understanding in western-thinking minds. Xenia is loosely translated as "hospitality," but more specifically is an almost ritualized reciprocal need-based friendship between a host and his guest. It is somewhat like the dependence-based "storge" in familial relationships, differing in that the xenia relationship can potentially take place between individuals who had previously been strangers. Both material as well as non-material benefits expressed include mutual gift giving and protection or shelter. The word in the Greek originates from traditions honoring the Greek god, Zeus, also know as Zeus Xenios, from which the word originates. In mythology, he had the role of protector of travelers, creating a religious obligation to be hospitable to travelers. While all this may seem tedious, the impact of breaking open the limits of the English language in understanding scripture is no less than astonishing. Imagine reading this scripture assuming that the word, love, has been translated from the Greek word, eros: "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 What?! I can connect with the act of physical intimacy being one in which couples are unrushed in their; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mice of Bistrot des Sept Freres (Winner ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award - Bronze Medal); Author: Visit Amazon's Marie LeTourneau Page; Review: What a wonderful, wonderful story! In The Mice of Bistrot des Sept Frre, its beautiful illustrations make the book. Set in a petit bistro in France, it is the story of a restaurant run by a family of mice. Each of the mice is unique in its own character and the illustrations depicted are both elegant and witty. It is satisfying to read a children's story book in which family members come together bringing their own individual strengths to the family as a whole to solve problems in times of crisis. I find it worthwhile to note that the family appears to be motherless. The bistro is run by Chef Marcel, father to the "Sept Frre," the Seven Brothers, whom the bistro is named for. The last member of the family of French mice is Petite Michelle, the youngest and only female character in the book. When introduced, she appeared almost as an afterthought, lost in the patriarchy of a large family dominated by talented males with valuable skills in the family business. Petite Michelle likes ballet and "helps out here and there." I admit it. Even while charmed by the clever characters (a French/beatnik/sensitive/poet mouse can only be seen as endearing) my feminist feathers were ruffled. They shouldn't have been. In the midst of chaos, while the rest of the family is in a panic, breeding even MORE chaos, the youngest sibling, Petite Jean effortlessly glides from situation to situation, putting out fires and generally saving the day in general, enabling the family to staunch the crisis and enjoy their happy ending. While I'd have preferred her character to have taken on a more obvious role as a strong, female rather than adhering to qualities that typify gender-stereotypes, (the youngest, working in the background, not assigned to a specific or valuable task in the family business in a meaningful way they contributes to the family) I must concede that children think and view the world in extremes, and would likely identify with her in that small children tend to feel powerless in a large world. That Petite Michelle emerges from the shadows and proves herself to be calm and capable in a way that her father and older siblings cannot was a wonderful and enjoyable turn that will leave children feeling vicariously empowered and hungry for more. Bon apptit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In Capable Arms: Living a Life Embraced by Grace; Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Kovac Page; Review: The title of Sarah Kovac's inspirational memoir, In Capable Arms: Living a Life Embraced by Grace, is a reflection true of its wavering theme. In the candid ebb and flow of the author's personal and honest account of her life living with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, Kovac reveals her cyclical feelings of fear of inadequacy & incapability alternating with personal triumphs as she gains confidence in her ability to be self-capable. Kovac's transparent honesty in sharing her self-doubt when faced with daily struggles that range from buttoning her pants to cradling her newborn baby in her limp arms to experiencing dreams that her "real" arms are fully functional firmly set the foundation for her lifelong transformative processing through of the stages of grief. It is by gaining understanding of God's perfect love for her that she discovers where her perfection truly lies; and where she finds grace.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: lion vs rabbit. by alex latimer; Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Latimer Page; Review: Lion vs. Rabbit was ADORABLE. In a humorous and engaging format with great illustrations, it was written for small children, who, as so often are exposed to bullying by siblings or schoolmates, will find the text easy to relate to. I appreciated that both Lion's bullying and the attempts to resolve the conflicts were illustrated in a manner that were non-violent, but rather silly. Sometimes storybooks written about dealing with bullying have an edge of mean-ness to them that can be a trifle upsetting to read for little ones, but in Lion vs, Rabbit, Alex Latimer deals with the issue in an extremely gentle way.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Porcupette Finds a Family; Author: Visit Amazon's Vanita Oelschlager Page; Review: Oh... oh...oh! This story is just the sweetest thing! I fell instantly in love with Porcupette, the baby porcupine who's mama disappeared while foraging for food one day. When she was scared, I wanted to take care of her, and was proud when she remembered to put her quills up like her mama had taught her. Isn't that the silliest thing? But I did. I felt invested, emotionally. When she was fearful, I felt protective. When she wondered if she had done something wrong to make her mama stop loving her, I tried not to cry. Emphasis: TRIED. When she accidentally pricked her new family with her quills, I felt the need to express compassion. And I was so grateful to Mother Bear, who loved Porcupette when she was at her most unlovable, and who's unconditional love ultimately helps Porcupette find self-acceptance. Porcupette Finds a Family IS a tearjerker; twenty years ago, mothers were crying into Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch, but today, perhaps a more pertinent book on familial love in the restructured family unit has arisen. Written for adoptive families by Vanita Oelschlager, its message is both applicable and endearingly applicable to children of divorced parents, traditional families, or the the unhealed child within. Buy it in hardback and keep it forever.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Out of the Blue: A book of color idioms and silly pictures; Author: Vanita Oelschlager; Review: In Out of the Blue, readers can enjoy ridiculously silly pictures and wordplay while learning about the origins of commonly used idioms related to color, making it a great choice for either preschoolers who are learning to identify colors or older children who enjoy word-banter, as well as the adult reading. Silly. Silly. Silly!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ding Dong! Gorilla!; Author: Visit Amazon's Michelle Robinson Page; Review: Ding Dong! Gorilla! confused me; it felt unfinished. In this story, a little boy describes events that took place when he let a gorilla into his family's home when expecting the pizza guy. The illustrations were fun, but the story had to follow. As the little boy describes how the gorilla made messes and broke things while playing in each different room in the house, the storyline's "conflict" gradually grew, but there was no climax to the story. Was the boy blaming the gorilla on his own doings? Was there REALLY a gorilla? Did his parents wrongfully blame him when there truly WAS a gorilla? At the end of the story, I thought there must have been something amiss with my download. Were there pages missing? Did I accidentally skip through pages that would have made the story more meaningful? No. It was simply anti-climactic. Bummer.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Disposition of Remains; Author: Visit Amazon's Laura T Emery Page; Review: I LOVE THIS BOOK. I'm usually reading several books at a time (a bit like channel surfing) but I started reading it last night, and its been all I can do to keep from slacking all day and keep my nose in Disposition of Remains. THANK GOD the weekend is coming up and its a satisfying 384 pages!" As a survivor of domestic abuse; so much of the anger Laura T Emerys character, Stacia, carries (the need for closure of the fragmented pieces of her life BEFORE her marriage) is redolent of my own fury at my life being stolen from me; the feeling of being hijacked. In all probability, I had an equal measure of anger turned inward for not loving myself PROTECTING myself from allowing so many years of my potential to waste away in a toxic relationship. The integrity of Emerys writing does not end at accurate historical and cultural descriptions, but depicts with unabashed honesty the complex myriad of emotions involved with judging ones self. In writing Disposition of Remains, author Laura T Emery wrote in circles around herself; the book was rife with subtle recurring themes, bringing warmth and depth to the story and development of its characters. As awareness of her mortality blooms, Stacia begins the process of giving birth to herself, even as her death is drawing near. Her conviction, I have to become someone different than I have been marks the beginning of the repeated theme as she labors to belong, truly, to herself.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stevie Tenderheart My Favorite Place to be...A Bedtime Story; Author: Steve Laible; Review: I received my copy of Stevie Tenderheart/ My Favorite Place to be as part of the Goodreads book giveaway I don't understand the high rating this story received; the concept was somewhat imaginative, but the storyline's execution was poorly done. The the book was intended to rhyme, but the meter was off, making difficult to follow. Perhaps if it were formatted in such away that the lines of the rhyme scheme were easier to identify and and anticipate instead of being hidden away within the narrative structure Stevie Tenderheart would have won me over. As it is, I tried to read it to my seven year old twice, and he abandoned ship each time.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Fan Man; Author: Visit Amazon's William Kotzwinkle Page; Review: The Fan Man has been in my top five list of favorite books since a brave sixth grade English teacher read it to us (saying, "beep! beeeeeeeeeeeep! beep! beep! beep! BEEP!" to edit out any words not any bad words the public school district might censure) as an example of "descriptive writing." Since that time, I've owned three copies, because for some reason, people always end up jacking them. The premise of the book is loosely the first-person account of Horse Badorties, just your average dude in the early seventies with a head full of acid and a PLAN. The PLAN entails reciting fifteen year old chicks to join the Love Choir and bring about an elevated state of world peace and shared Nirvana by singing into battery-operated fans on national TV. If you've ever wondered what it would feel like to have your face stolen, this is your book. Just plan on failing your pee test tomorrow.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook; Author: Visit Amazon's Louise Hagler Page; Review: The New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook is, and has been, my favorite cookbook. I'm currently on my FOURTH copy, having used my others until the pages fell to the floor. This is one of my books that I won't lend out; its just too useful. The title is misleading; the recipes are VEGAN. At the time it was written, however, the word "vegetarian" was fairly one-size-fits-all. "The Farm" is an intentional community established in 1971, when its original settlers followed Stephen Gatskin from San Francisco to rural Summertown, Tennessee in a caravan of painted schoolbusses, vans, and trucks stretching 60 vehicles long. At its peak, The Farm had somewhere in the area of 1,200-1,600 residents, and is still in existence today. One of my favorite things about The New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook is that, unlike Oh, say VEGETARIAN TIMES or THE MOOSELODGE COOKBOOKS, the recipes are both usable and affordable. Even if I could afford the fancy ingredients required for Veg Times Vegan Galette des Rois recipe, in no way could I justify pouring Kirsch brandy over tofu. I mean, really. Who does that?! With the hooplah regarding cultural awareness of vegetarianism, urban homesteading, and living simply or simply living, practical how-tos on making soymilk, tortillas and tempeh are particularly applicable. Nestled into the cookbook are photos of Farm residents and short stories, making it an interesting read on an important time in history. If you enjoy that aspect of New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook, you might also be interested in Ina May Gatskins book, Spiritual Midwifery, which is the story of how the Farm was born and the births that followed, or Arcadia, the fictionalized story of the Farm, written by Lauren Groff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Strange Birth, Short Life, and Sudden Death of Justice Girl; Author: Visit Amazon's Julian David Stone Page; Review: I appreciated the time the author put into bringing this book's characters to life; from the beginning, I was won over by the main character- even though he was depicted as an unlikeable individual I found myself making excuses for his character. The author definitely has mastery over the historical period as well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: How Sweet It Is; Author: Visit Amazon's Melissa Brayden Page; Review: Set in the fictional Applewood, Illinois, main character, Molly, knows everybody, and typical of small towns, everybody knows her. Molly spends her days trying to create the perfect truffle; the key to saving Flour Child Bakery, a legacy from her aging father, and engrossed in unconscious ritualized communion with her partner, Cassie, who died unexpectedly four years ago, when her commuter plane crashed. What Molly doesnt expect is the return of Cassies wayward younger sister, Jordan, or the complex feelings that arise from their growing mutual attraction. The storyline veers from typical as unexpected taboos are broken. Molly and Jordan muddle through the complexities of coming to peace with creating a relationship in the midst of the memory of Jordans deceased sister. When their fledgling relationship is discovered Jordan and Cassies parents, familial roles and expectations are challenged, and habits established to soothe the wounds of the untimely loss of Cassie become agitated, and cease to bring comfort. The town of Applewoods unblinking acceptance of the main characters identification as lesbians appears to be widespread to the point of being unrealistic; however, it was refreshing to enjoy the moving book without the predictable political themes involving sexuality. Equally refreshing was the entrepreneurial capabilities of the women showcased in this fresh, tenderhearted work of fiction.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Toby, the Pet Therapy Dog, Says Be a Buddy, Not a Bully; Author: Visit Amazon's Charmaine Hammond Page; Review: For the record, Toby the Pet Therapy Dog is not a cognitive behavioral therapist for pets who display chronic bullying-related emotional disorders. The entire pretext of this book is to introduce school-age children to the concept of therapy animals. Aside from a picture illustrating the identifying uniform, the book offers little by way of familiarizing children with the use of service animals as they relate to people with disabilities. Therapy dogs are briefly described as dogs who help when people are sad or not feeling well, which vaguely address the purpose of companion animals, but does nothing to teach children about how service dogs can increase quality of life for those with visual or physical impairments. It is commonly accepted etiquette that dictates that therapy dogs should not be approached or touched without express permission by the dog handler. Sensitivity to the fact the dog is working and may be in the middle of a the use of therapy animals is becoming more widespread among individuals with disabilities. Within the framework of the sub-plot, Toby is playing by himself with his favorite stuffed bear, and another dog approaches poor Toby, only to snatch his bear away, ripping it. Because of that event, Toby is preparing to receive an award honoring him for refusing to engage with the bully by retaliating or communicating aggressively. I elected to read and review this children's book because I support diversity and non-violent communication training in children. However, this book reinforced neither. The primary job of any therapy animal is to stay close and in-tune with its human handler, alert for any signs of distress or even subtle irregularities undetectable by humans that could potentially cause a heart attack or seizures, saving lives. The responsibility to clearly illustrate the valuable work of a service dog is undermined within the story when Toby is playing by himself, away from his human. When conflict arises, he is taken by surprise, and runs to get help from his handler, Miss Charmaine. The dynamic is entirely backward, and while cutesy, gives the message that people with disabilities needing the help of therapy dogs don't really need the help after all. From the aspect of "being a buddy, not a bully," Toby was neither. He was just a dog who ran away.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: A Tale of Two Mommies; Author: Visit Amazon's Vanita Oelschlager Page; Review: A Tale of Two Mommies clearly detangles the relationships between a little boy and his mommies in his family in which gender roles in his are removed from parenting. Written from a child's perspective in engaging lyrical form, Vanita Oelschlager brings to focus the place where a child's needs lay; putting to rest challenging questions springing from assumptions that parents in a same sex relationship are only half a family by detailing with cheerful simplicity that a family having two mommies is whole in love.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Temptation of Lila and Ethan (Ella and Micha); Author: Visit Amazon's Jessica Sorensen Page; Review: Can true love ever survive in the brackish absence of light? While superficially, The Temptation of Lila and Ethan is set in the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas, its true landscape lays within the treacherous darkness secreted within the title characters' separate pasts. In the same meaningless way describing an ocean as being deep is factually correct, yet misses the point entirely, it would be simplistic and lacking to the point of irrelevance to limit Jessica Sorensen's work of fiction by depicting it as merely a romance novel. The book's significance lays in the web of faulty thought-patterns established when abuse is present in the home during early childhood, and in the main character's dismantling their prior perceptions of how they fit into the world around them. Unsteady foundations make precarious footholds for both Lila and Ethan, as they fight to break free from their noxious families and pain, even as they continue to be their own worst antagonists. The brutal reality of how long-term consequences play out due to the dysfunctional choices of others is clearly portrayed as the two struggle to find coping mechanisms and ways to sedate the pain, years later. It is in Lila and Ethan's conquering drug and sex addiction that, as the numbness they've been fostering for years begins to slowly fade, that they are forced to come to terms with the demons that lay within; and perhaps even more frightening, acknowledge their unsettling growing attraction.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forever Friday: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Timothy Lewis Page; Review: In a gripping love story that transcends time, author Timothy Lewis new title, Forever Fridays, is the narrative of the intense fire between a man and wife, and the fervent devotion crucial to fanning its flames. Set within duel timelines, smooth transitions take us from present day Texas, where estate-sale specialist, Adam Coby, unearths a collection of sixty years of postcards hidden inside several photo albums. Not having recovered from the devastating heartbreak of a divorce two years ago, his brokenness stems not only from the loss of his future with his wife, but in what he sees as the staggering futility of love. As he casually reads through them, he experiences a flicker of hope that hidden in these postcards is the secret to maintaining a rich and long lasting love. Falling into easy nostalgia with imperceptible seams and a graceful entry into a bygone era we learn the story of Gabe and Pearl Alexander beginning at the genesis and the birthplace of their love, 1920's Texas Coastal Bend. Tenderly chronicled within each missive is the story of a lifetime of a love not taken for granted, but nurtured and cultivated with the meticulousness that can only come from mutual devotion, unchanging and reaffirmed throughout the decades. Forever Friday is truly a beautiful and inspiring read, and resplendent in its telling, making this title one you'll want to read and re-read as you invest in your own love story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: And Then She Was Gone; Author: Visit Amazon's Rosalind Noonan Page; Review: I think most of us can identify with the raw, desperation of powerlessness; the experience of being struck bare; our frail impotence exposing our inability to take action. The abject humility of it. Like an tattered cotton pillowcase faded on the line, its worn fabric bleached by the sun and made transparent; a fade so gradual we are taken unaware when we see that its face, once splashed with color, has vanished into holes. Where once there was something, now, nothing. In reading And Then She Was Gone by Rosalind Noonan, I expected to identify on some level with Dan and Rachel O'Neil, the parents of ten year old Lauren, who was abducted walking home from school one afternoon just before her birthday. The pain and confusion of losing a child must be unimaginable; the desperate search for answers that no one can give a torment beyond understanding. I get that. What took me by surprise int his thoughtful, well-written novel, is the heartbreak that follows when your lost lamb is returned home, reminding me that in life, there is no flag waving in the distance to signal us when an event has concluded, but in its stead, a processes, overlapping other experiences. without a measurable end. Written in a style reminiscent of Jodi Picoult, And Then She Was Gone broaches a topic that most of would rather close our eyes to; the personal experience of child abduction, and worse, the trauma that replaces the happily-ever-after that we all unrealistically cling to. A physical copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author for purposes of review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Enemy Combatant; Author: Ron Albury; Review: I tend to be attracted to beauty and all things feminine, and the titles I read reflect that. I read poetry, vegan cookbooks, and women's fiction; never in a million years would I ever imagine myself gravitating towards political fiction, and certainly not books pertaining to military life and combat in Iraq. The violence, strategic missions and men's comradery existing between soldiers that have experienced combat together are lost on me. I see them as irrelevant in my own life, and frankly, boring. I received a review copy of Enemy Combatant, and was attracted to it immediately because of its stunning cover art. I briefly skimmed the back face of the oversized paperback I held in my hand, looking for clues as to its content, but none were forthcoming. I was intrigued by more artful photography and the question, "Is she saving our country or destroying it?" I began to read. Ron Albury's newly self-published novel, Enemy Combatant, begins in the unwinding of anti-terrorist agent, Samantha's, past self. As one of two siblings of a single mother, Samantha and her sister, Chris, live in shadows and silence, young girls whittled down into one, invisible presence trying to stay out of striking range of their drunken mother. One month to the day after 9/11, Chris is removed from the home and placed in state care following a brutal beating, and Samantha is left on her own, spending her days aimlessly wandering and contemplating suicide. Samantha joins the military not to begin a new life, but to bring meaning to her death. What she discovers in basic training, however, is a level playing field with the other recruits, in which she was no longer identified as "the daughter of a drunken whore" or assigned temporary value based on her skills under the bleachers and on her knees.. Her former identity is stripped of her, and along with it, the inhibitions that kept her a prisoner of her low birth. She gives herself, willingly and in entirety, to the army, and is formed into a human weapon of worth and authentic, earned value. The chain of events that followed were inhumanly violent, and depicted with such a graphic, brutal telling that I found it difficult to continue. With heart-rendering determination, Samantha resolves to adhere to the sense of purpose she's gained from her time serving our country, despite experiencing repeated disfiguring assaults. The decisiveness in which she remains intently focused on her role in eradicating terrorism was truly humbling and fostered in me a sense of gratitude for those who've served in the armed forces that I'd never before experienced a personal level. I can truly say with all honesty, that only halfway into this novel, the story within had changed me. After her mission was ambushed, Samantha leaves Iraq worse for the wear and returns to the States. Struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), she is refused disability and her medical needs go unmet as she slips between the cracks. As powerful and intelligently written as I found Enemy Combatant to this point, I; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Goodnight Moon Board Book & Baby Socks; Author: Visit Amazon's Margaret Wise Brown Page; Review: Can anything truly be said to speak with less than lavish, rhapsodic adoration of Margaret Wise Browns classic childrens book? Just as mothers and their babes in arms have the uncanny ability to synchronize their heartbeats by a single loving glance, the lyrical cadence and soothing, repetitive text makes reading Goodnight Moonna compulsive act of gentle rocking motion, lulling the reader into an involuntary ebb and flow. The words of the bedtime story fall from the lips as a lullaby; it is impossible to keep a harsh edge from ones voice from dissolving into the tender rhythm. Of the nearly one hundred books written by Margaret Wise Brown, Goodnight Moon is notably one of her most beloved. The late Clement Hurd was best known for his work illustrating Goodnight Moon; his charming collaboration launched his career as an illustrator of childrens books. The bold orange and green that blankets each page coupled with simple, recurring stripes disappear slowly into darkness as the charming little bunny fights sleep. The true miracle of Goodnight Moon is in its uncanny ability to conjure sleepiness in children. Hell find himself rubbing his eyes and allowing you to roll him into his bed and under a warm quilt by the last page.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bell Jar: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Sylvia Plath Page; Review: I loved everything about this book. I especially loved The Bell Jar's symmetry... the electrocution of the Rosenbergs, and Esther Greenwood's electroshock therapy; the bird coming out of the egg in the fig tree and Esther's witnessing "a baby coming out of a woman;" A little historical context: The Bell Jar opens with a reference to Julius and Ethel Rosenberg- a real-life couple electrocuted in 1953. They were convicted of conspiring to commit espionage when they were accused of stealing Americas most precious military secret at that time- the atomic bomb- and giving it to the Soviet Union. The Rosenburgs maintained their innocence until their deaths, and were regarded as innocent and became widely celebrated martyrs. Evidence was collected that clearly indicated that Julian Rosenburg had indeed sold government secrets to the Soviets, but no such evidence was provided against his wife, Ethel. Ethel Rosenberg was dragged into the case solely to put pressure on her husband to talk, and in 2001, David Greenglass admitted to lying on the witness stand regarding her involvement. Ethyl was the first woman in this country to be given the death sentence, and Americans were horrified. Even more horrifying was that the first attempt at electrocution failed, and two minutes after it was administered, Ethyl Rosenburg was pronounced alive. A second round of electrocution was meted out and jolts were inflicted, cooking her brain, until a plume of smoke rose from her head and curled up to the ceiling fan. The semi-fictional main character, Esther Greenwood, responds to this nation-wide horror and speaks to premonitions of her own future electro-shock treatments at the books opening by saying, "The idea of being electrocuted makes me sick, and that's all there was to read about in the papers -- goggle-eyed headlines staring up at me on every street corner and at the fusty, peanut-smelling mouth of every subway. It had nothing to do with me, but I couldn't help wondering what it would be like, being burned alive all along your nerves." An interesting note is that in The Bell Jar, Esther Greenwoods first electroshock treatment was also a botched attempt. Sparked by a growing dissent within herself and a violent sexual encounter, awareness blooms that her fledgling hopes for her inert potential have been preempted; waylaid by gender-based societal expectations that fuel a growing contempt for patriarchal roles and the women who subjugate to them. As Esther wrestles with budding resentment, she engages in a dangerous, self-destructive dance, moving her closer to her impending suicide attempt.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl in the Road; Author: Monica Byrne; Review: Ho-LY Sh*t. I LOVE it. I love it I love it I love it. Reading The Girl in the Road, I had not yet made it halfway through, its fast became one of my favorite books. Truthfully, just after reading the first few lines, I was hooked, with no possible way of escape. This title's publication date isn't set until May 2014, and even though I'm reading it in ebook format, I'm desperate to get my hands on a physical copy. I could EAT this book. The Girl in the Road is a book about death and dying, giving birth and new life. The story begins with subtle themes of spirituality born of a traumatic event. A snake bite. Blood, pumping from the shallow between Meena's breasts. White bandaging applied in the shape of a cross. All the foundational elements required for the building of a religion are accounted for. The surrounding scene in the midst of her exodus is dizzying; the day is the ninth day of Odem, a yearly ten-day festival honoring King Mahabali. Excitements peak and ceremonial flowers tower and reach their toppling point. An atmosphere of gaiety thins the barriers of caste and creed as participants make merry. Like the revered and beloved King Mahabali, so loved for his kindness and generosity that Lord Vishnu was provoked into a jealousy so severe, he pushed the goodly king off the edge of the earth, the character Meena draws the attention of an unknown assailant who plants a deadly snake in her bed, causing her to flee her hometown while around her, celebrants are wild with revelry as they prepare for a parade. The young woman, Meena, describes her state as both manic and sanctified. Leaving the heart of "the world," she walks past another parade; a long road lined with religious statues and icons to further embed the sensation of sanctification and to a degree, the day of her own birthing. Intricate and complex, author Monica Byrne's first novel is a deeply satisfying read. Rich layers of à and character development give her protagonist an impression of intimate familiarity, creating the illusion of personal investment in her quest. Escaping from an unknown assailant, Meena sets out across forbidden territory, an energy-harvesting bridge crossing the Atlantic Ocean in her crusade to piece together the puzzle of her mother's death, and soothe her longing for maternal love by gaining insight as to her mother's life. Seven meters below the surface of the ocean, Meena finds herself connected by an umbilical-like cord to the Trail. In underwater orb, Meena reflects on times she has longed for her mother. It is as if, in the black, rocking, depths of the ocean, curled, naked, in the fetal position within the womb-like confines of the orb, she enters into a season of mourning and self-evaluation, and always, visions of an unknown girl in the road. Written in a futuristic time of sexual and racial fluidity in which gender and ethnic identification are surgically reassigned and prejudices in that regard have all-but died off, the story; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prayers for the Stolen; Author: Visit Amazon's Jennifer Clement Page; Review: Having access to pre-release books for review, I often find myself in the untenable position of having to force myself through tortuous, mediocre, crudely written books. There's a lot of appallingly bad writing out there, cleverly disguised by misleading cover art; their publication based largely on overused cliches. I feel resentful for the time I spend choking down uninspired, poorly researched titles, when there are authors who invest themselves, literally for years, in the development of a well-written book. author, Jennifer Clement's new title, Prayers for the Stolen, falls into the second category of higher achievement. Set in a small, rural mountain village in the state of Guerrero comprised of solely of women, who, Amazon-like in their matriarchy, exist in the almost absolute absence of males; survival is both grueling and violent. This is not the Mexican paradise lavishly depicted in glossy tourist brochures, but a place of hardship and brutality. Following each birth, daughters are celebrated and mourned simultaneously, as each newborn is declared a son, in the hope that they will be protected against trafficking by drug lords. Their femininity striped of them at birth, girls' gender is none-the-less apparent in the unified stance the all-female community takes. Its women walk in both unilateral solidarity and a wary suspicion of one another, while maintaining a warm, albeit aloof, protectiveness. Written with well-researched thoroughness, Prayers for the Stolen is savage in its detail. Its primitive, inhospitable landscape reinforces the blistering reality of the brutal, cut-throat oppression of day-to-day survival in the face of their ruthless jungle home. The constant natural dangers of iguanas, snakes, and scorpions combined with the lack of access to medical care and the airborne spraying of toxic herbicides maintain only a minor threat in the shadow of a greater evil; the incontemplatively corrupt Mexican drug lords. I cannot give this title enough stars. If you buy one book this year, put Prayers for the Stolen at the top of your list, and plan on this gripping novel of female courage consuming your every thought well beyond its last pages. A digital copy of this book was provided by the publisher for purposes of review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indie Spiritualist: A No Bullshit Exploration of Spirituality; Author: Visit Amazon's Chris Grosso Page; Review: Author Chris Grosso Separates the Wheat From the Bulls*** With a table of contents that reads like a playlist, Indie Spiritualist: A No Bulls*** Exploration of Spirituality, author, Chris Grosso, is brutally honest as he shares his journey in carving out a path in his own darkness to find personal meaning and true value in his own spiritual truth. At a Snatam Kaur Indian devotional/ kirtan music performance I attended last spring, Kaur shared an observation that in this culture, yoga is practiced with a pastel mat rolled up under one arm and a Starbucks coffee in your opposite hand. By contrast, in India, Yogis own no possessions, but a loincloth and a begging bowl; yoga is an inward spiritual practice that requires no trendy accessories, only solitude. Our spirituality has been bottled, bought, and trademarked. By addressing our complacency and avoiding the spirituality culture, Chris Grosso encourages us to look our mortality square in the eye, recognizing and acknowledging it, that we may explore a deeper spiritual relationship with ourselves. In Indie Spiritualist, Grosso shakes free of dogma as part of a modern-day awakening, yet he faces terrible spiritual crisis to the tune of, does he wear Saucony or Vans to perform kirtan at a yoga retreat? (He wore the Saucony. Namaste.) He creates a delicate balance of flesh and spirit, and then intentionally topples it by dropping the F-bomb. Hes a brilliant contradiction in terms, and hes beautiful. I can see him in my minds eye, levitating in the heavenlies upon a golden lotus in the clouds. I can see him pissing over the side. Chris Grosso doesnt adopt an elevated, new-agey spiritual superiority, but introduces Buddhist concepts like Samadhi, rendering it accessible to the uninitiated by likening the experience to the state of bliss attained during a fifteen-minute Eddie Van Halen solo. Hes put a vacuum sealed packet of Nirvana (the state of consciousness, not the band) at the bottom of the cereal box for us all to find; we may have to work a little to find it, but its there, and its worth it. A digital copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley for purposes of review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brie Embraces the Heart of Submission: After Graduation (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Red Phoenix Page; Review: The novel is smoking hot. Without the needless bantering so commonly prevalent in other erotic novels, Brie Embraces the Heart of Submission: After Graduation captures the smoldering want behind the Dom/sub relationship. Each chapter reads like an erotic short story, filled with intense, tightly wound BDSM scenes building wave after wave of sexual tension, building in intensity until relief washes over the reader as the couples reach their climax. Red Phoenix is clearly in her element and writes with what can only be a first-hand acquaintanceship within the BDSM world. Her in-depth knowledge and familiarity with the alternative lifestyle and its many kinks and accouterments are clearly evident in her writing; you couldn't get any closer to experiencing the heat of power exchange without sustaining a few rows of searing, raised welts upon your flesh. A digital copy of this book was provided by the publisher for purposes of review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Goodnight Bush: A Parody; Author: Visit Amazon's Erich Origen Page; Review: Its funny 'cause its true!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Prophet; Author: Visit Amazon's Kahlil Gibran Page; Review: Kahlil Gibran's literary masterpiece, The Prophet, is rich with heady poetic prose and spiritualism. Almustafa, the Chosen and Beloved, has spent twelve long years searching the seas after his ship capsized, waiting for the return of his people to carry him home. When the day comes that he sights his ship, he is filled with deep, soulful introspect; while he longs to return to his island home, awareness blooms that he has made a home in the city of Orphalese. Realizing that he has caused himself to suffer by holding himself aloft from those in the small community who now occupy his heart, he asks himself: "Shall the day of parting be the day of gathering? And shall it be said that my eve was in truth my dawn?" While waiting for the ship to draw near and Almustafa spends his last hour on the mainland. He leaves a trail of offerings from his heart and wisdom that he has gained as his gift, and final goodbye.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Giving Tree with Gift Card; Author: Visit Amazon's Shel Silverstein Page; Review: Its been fifty long years since [author:Shel Silverstein|435477]s masterpiece, [book:The Giving Tree|370493], was first printed, against all odds. Originally rejected for publication, The Giving Tree was considered to be "too sad" for children and "too simple" for adults by Simon and Shuester. The classic green book is gentle parable of love, its simplicity in Trees depth of feeling and devotion to Boy, the object of her affection, and its complexity hidden in the disturbing truth that we have the potential to give ourselves in love, even as it consumes us, and in the circular pattern in which life always bring us home.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Prophet; Author: Khalil Gibran; Review: Kahlil Gibran's literary masterpiece, The Prophet, is rich with heady poetic prose and spiritualism. Almustafa, the Chosen and Beloved, has spent twelve long years searching the seas after his ship capsized, waiting for the return of his people to carry him home. When the day comes that he sights his ship, he is filled with deep, soulful introspect; while he longs to return to his island home, awareness blooms that he has made a home in the city of Orphalese. Realizing that he has caused himself to suffer by holding himself aloft from those in the small community who now occupy his heart, he asks himself: "Shall the day of parting be the day of gathering? And shall it be said that my eve was in truth my dawn?" While waiting for the ship to draw near and Almustafa spends his last hour on the mainland. He leaves a trail of offerings from his heart and wisdom that he has gained as his gift, and final goodbye.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Yellow Wall-Paper, Herland, and Selected Writings (Penguin Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Charlotte Perkins Gilman Page; Review: ***WARNING- POSSIBLE TRIGGERS*** I just finished reading The Yellow Wallpaper for a discussion in a feminist book club I just joined. I thought it would be so easy; there was a link for a free, downloadable PDF available through the Gutenberg Project, so I wouldnt even have to shell out a few bucks, or worse, have to special order it after waiting until the last minute. The next day, I walked into my local free book exchange, and found a copy. The pages were still crisp and everything. I thought, Score! Since it was very short, only thirty-six pages, (not counting the afterward) I was able to off reading it in favor of another book I was excited to start. Less than an hour after I optimistically turned the first pages, I had reached the end. I HATED that book. I wanted to throw it across the room. I might still do it. Every time the husband, John, dismissed the wife (did she even HAVE a name? Im assuming her personal worth does not necessitate an identifying factor, like a NAME) I had to use my utmost self-control and not rip the damn thing in half. My self-control was ADMIRABLE, above all things. NOBODY. GOT. HURT. I guess the reason I had such a strong reaction was because her situation was so similar to my own. My husband kept me totally isolated from my family and friends- my children had their rooms on the upper level of the house we lived in, and we slept on the lower level, in the finished basement. It was horrible, the feeling of being underground, constantly. My husband took over the childcare responsibilities, including waking them and readying them for school, their schedules, and putting them to bed each evening. They weren't allowed to play downstairs, because that was "OUR special space," and I really only saw them at dinner time. I was discouraged from being on the main level of the house, and wasn't able to drive my own car, because he had it blocked in. We lived in the country, with few neighbors... I was stuck. I became SO ENRAGED. I tried to speak for myself and my children and set boundaries, but, in the same way the narrator describes being dismissed, my husband would entirely disregard the validity of my feelings and my needs by reminding me of my delicate state. He'd pour me wine, and put me to bed. Later, when I'd drank my feelings away, he would use my body. That horrible cycle the wife in The Yellow Wallpaper couldn't escape (attempting to discuss her needs/ being pat on the head and diagnose her as being "prone to fancy," the historical context of F'ed up in the head/ the wife assuming her feelings are wrong, and only her husband truly understands her) was all too familiar... Like the wife, I began doubting myself; editing my self-perception to line up with my abuser. Eventually, he didn't need to impart his "wisdom," as I was able to hear his voice in my head; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Monster at the End of This Book; Author: Visit Amazon's Jon Stone Page; Review: It feels a little bit goofy to rate a Little Golden Book as five stars, but The Monster at the End of this Book, written by Jon Stone is just that adorable. Grover Monster from Sesame Street is at his endearing best as he does his very best (despite great trepidation on his part) to protect the reader from the scary monster at the end of the book. Pages come alive as Grover hides inside the binding and behind torn pages when things get too scary for poor little Grover to handle by himself. Children will delight in each page they turn.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sparkling Gems from the Greek Electronic Edition: A Must-Have Tool for Your Computer Reference Library; Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Renner Page; Review: Rick Renners daily devotional, Sparkling Gems From the Greek, is a thick, heavy tome that is somewhat intimidating at first glance, but don't be misled. In each daily reading, Renner offers up a daily scripture and breaks it down, piece by piece, into its original Greek translation, allowing the reader to gain a fullness of understanding that includes the nuances and inferences that don't translate well into modern American-English. Consider the word love. In English, its meaning is limited to an intense feeling of deep affection Our understanding of the word love is limited to that of a feeling, even though the word itself appears 179 times alone in the New Testament. Japan, until the late nineteenth century, didn't have a word for love at all. The Greek language can boast five; philia, storge, eros, agape, and xenia. Philia is commonly translated from ancient Greek to modern English as being a brotherly love. Philia is the dispassionate virtuous love and loyalty to friends and family, a concept that was, interestingly, developed by Aristotle. It can also mean "love of the mind." Storge, like Philia, occurs within families, but differentiates in that it specifies natural affection; that which is naturally reciprocated between parents and their children. Storge has been commonly defined as motherly love. Eros is described passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. The Greek word, agape, refers to a Godly, divine spiritual relationship. If in the Greek eros describes a physical attraction, then the Greek agape describes a spiritual one. The fifth and last Greek word for love is xenia. Its meaning translates with the most difficulty into modern English, and even when translated, doesnt easily interpret into understanding in western-thinking minds. Xenia is loosely translated as hospitality, but more specifically is an almost ritualized reciprocal need-based friendship between a host and his guest. It is somewhat like the dependence-based storge in familial relationships, differing in that the xenia relationship can potentially take place between individuals who had previously been strangers. Both material as well as non-material benefits expressed include mutual gift giving and protection or shelter. The word in the Greek originates from traditions honoring the Greek god, Zeus, also know as Zeus Xenios, from which the word originates. In mythology, he had the role of protector of travelers, creating a religious obligation to be hospitable to travelers. While all this may seem tedious, the impact of breaking open the limits of the English language in understanding scripture is no less than astonishing. Imagine reading this scripture assuming that the word, love, has been translated from the Greek word, eros: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 What?! I can connect with the act of physical intimacy being one in which couples are unrushed in their; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Before We Met: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Lucie Whitehouse Page; Review: Do we ever really know who we're sleeping with? For British nationalist, Hannah, the world is her oyster; from childhood, she's dreamed of living in New York City, and with a high paying career as an advertising executive, she's accomplished just that. She's confident, successful, and sexy, and while her friends have all married themselves off and begun families, Hannah's night has only just begun. That is, until she meets Mark Reilly, devastatingly handsome, charming, and successful in his own right. Before the year reaches its half-way point, Hannah and Mark are engaged. After their wedding, she finds herself back in London, having left her hard-won position at the advertising firm, she abandons the dreams she's worked so hard to accomplish and jumps in with both feet, confident of Mark's love for her. Eight months into the marriage and still a newlywed, Hannah finds herself still dazzled by the newness of being Mark's wife; that is until Mark doesn't come home from his business trip, and her perspective begins to slide off in an odd direction, like a kaleidoscope with a faulty internal mirror, and and just as suddenly as she fell in love with mark, the rug is pulled from under her feet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Prophet; Author: Visit Amazon's Kahlil Gibran Page; Review: Kahlil Gibran's literary masterpiece, The Prophet, is rich with heady poetic prose and spiritualism. Almustafa, the Chosen and Beloved, has spent twelve long years searching the seas after his ship capsized, waiting for the return of his people to carry him home. When the day comes that he sights his ship, he is filled with deep, soulful introspect; while he longs to return to his island home, awareness blooms that he has made a home in the city of Orphalese. Realizing that he has caused himself to suffer by holding himself aloft from those in the small community who now occupy his heart, he asks himself: "Shall the day of parting be the day of gathering? And shall it be said that my eve was in truth my dawn?" While waiting for the ship to draw near and Almustafa spends his last hour on the mainland. He leaves a trail of offerings from his heart and wisdom that he has gained as his gift, and final goodbye.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Learning to Play With a Lion?s Testicles: Unexpected Gifts From the Animals of Africa; Author: Visit Amazon's Melissa Haynes Page; Review: I was expecting something entirely different inside this book; despite the title, the cover art fooled me into believing this book was much more serious than it was. There was the element of the author's struggles to come to terms with her mother's death, but the mood of the Learning to Play with a Lion's Testicles was ridiculously engaging. Melissa Haynes obviously felt very little concern over maintaining her dignity as she repeatedly threw herself under the bus for a good laugh. Her writing style reminded me of Jen Lancaster's; I kept stopping my reading to look at the book's cover to make sense of why Jen was on Safari. Weird, but good. A physical copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author for purposes of review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hiram's red shirt (A Little golden book); Author: Visit Amazon's Mabel Watts Page; Review: Hiram's Red Shirt by author, Mabel Watts, is a goofy, goofy story sure to tickle the funny-bone of little people. Hiram is a farmer with a small problem that turns into a much bigger one; one morning, when Hiram was feeling fine and spry, he flipped his pancake tremendously high. The next thing Hiram hears is a "Riiiiip" in his favorite red flannel shirt. The story takes a ridiculous turn as Hiram seeks to solve the problem of the ripped shirt, taking a little from here to make a little for there, until his favorite red flannel is more patchwork than shirt. Read it to your little ones, and plan on their begging to have you read it TWICE.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Breaking Mobius; Author: Visit Amazon's T.R. Horne Page; Review: T.R. Horne's recently released contemporary romance title, Breaking Mobius, flawlessly and intricately weaves the lives of three broken individuals trying to make good. Each of her characters seem to be seeking salvation within their separate relationships. Justice Bradford, University of Atlanta golden boy, is well on his way to fame and fortune on the gridiron. Constantly surrounded by women attracted to his status as an athlete, he wants nothing more than to hold as tightly as he can to his relationship with his high-school sweetheart, Nicole, his super-sexy security blanket. As a model for music videos, Nicole Bunn is on her way to her own brand of stardom. The security Nicole seeks is of a different kind; having been orphaned at a young age and being separated from her sister when they were adopted into different families, Nicole knows that the only thing worth having is money, and a lot of it. Dazzled by the wealth she's surrounded by within the music industry, she begins to question whether taking the slow-track to financial success with Justice is her best option, or if accepting the advances of one of the rappers she works with might better fulfill her desire for a luxurious life. For Mali Struthers, avoiding anything coming close to even resembling a relationship is he most sure-fire way to make her dream of being a professional dancer come true. After all, she left old life back in Washington State and high-tailed it to Georgia as quick as that Greyhound could carry her for a reason; she'd left her abusive father and her mother where they belonged, in the past, and without even looking over her shoulder. There was no way she was going to turn out like them. Success, professionally and financially, provides the twist in the mobius on which the three find themselves derailed in their relationship paths and into wholeness.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Vegan Cookbook: Feed your Soul, Taste the Love: 100 of the Best Vegan Recipes; Author: Adele McConnell; Review: Whether you self-identify as a vegan-for-lifer or simply as one scoping out the scene, chances are, your experience has been dampened by a single, misguided serving of the dreaded hippie gruel. Fear not. Food blogger, Adele McConnell, of Vegie Head has assembled a luscious collection of recipes for newbie vegans and for those of us who choose a nutritious, plant-based diet. Vegan Cookbook is filled with page after page of gorgeous photos of mouthwatering dishes that will both inspire and nourish. More than just a book of vegan recipes, The Vegan Cookbook educates readers as to the benefits of avoiding animal products in our foods and simplifies meal-planning for individuals with food sensitivities by clearly marking gluten, soy, nut, sugar free and raw food recipes using easily-identifiable icons to indicate recipes for specialized dietary preferences. Using easily accessible ingredients, McConnell's approach to meals is easy to recreate in your own kitchen, and with a wide variety of offerings, this title could easily sit alone as the only instructional cookbook on your shelf. Home cooks will enjoy preparing their own vegan milks and cheeses, which for many can mean the difference between diving into an all plant-based diet, or backing away for fear of being denied their favorite, savory dishes. Decadent offerings of smoothies and compotes are sure to invoke a satisfying start to your day, while lunches of Curried Chickpea Satay and Sweet Potato Cups with Hummus and Walnut Pesto will ignite a new love of all things veggie. McConnell's succulent, savory, Rustic Tart with Spinach Pesto will win you with its gratifying flavor, and her Cherry Coconut Crunch Bars, Lime and Coconut Muffins will have you salivating at the end of the meal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Prophet: "You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts." - Kindle edition; Author: Kahlil Gibran; Review: Kahlil Gibran's literary masterpiece, The Prophet, is rich with heady poetic prose and spiritualism. Almustafa, the Chosen and Beloved, has spent twelve long years searching the seas after his ship capsized, waiting for the return of his people to carry him home. When the day comes that he sights his ship, he is filled with deep, soulful introspect; while he longs to return to his island home, awareness blooms that he has made a home in the city of Orphalese. Realizing that he has caused himself to suffer by holding himself aloft from those in the small community who now occupy his heart, he asks himself: "Shall the day of parting be the day of gathering? And shall it be said that my eve was in truth my dawn?" While waiting for the ship to draw near and Almustafa spends his last hour on the mainland. He leaves a trail of offerings from his heart and wisdom that he has gained as his gift, and final goodbye.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable - 9.8 Feet (3 Meters) Supports Ethernet, 3D, 4K and Audio Return; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Haven't tried the Ethernet part but the HDMI works just fine. Good price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Insten Micro USB OTG to USB 2.0 Adapter Cable Compatible With Samsung Galaxy S7/S6/S6 Edge/Note 4/3; Brand: INSTEN; Review: Broke on me randomly..; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: SanDisk Extreme SSD 480 GB SATA 6.0 Gb-s 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive SDSSDX-480G-G25; Brand: SanDisk; Review: Sooooo the first one I got died very very quickly. I contacted sandisk they replaced it with an Extreme II instead very quickly. So this drive itself only deserves a 1 star because it sucks and died on me but sandisk fixed the problem really quickly which was awesome. The dirve they've replaced it with is baller and working fantastically.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Samsung OEM 3.5mm Tangle Free Stereo Headset with Microphone - Non-Retail Packaging - White; Brand: Samsung; Review: Pretty positive these are fake. For the price it's hard to complain but they have a lot of sound leakage and the sound quality is s***. I remember thinking my first pair sounded way better than these replacements. Mic and buttons also broke quickly.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: XFX AMD Radeon R9 290 Double Dissipation R9290AEDFD Graphic Card 947MHz 4GB DDR5 DP HDMI 2XDVI XFX AMD Radeon R9; Brand: XFX; Review: This this is a little dated now but still working great for me. Bought it for bitcoin mining and still have it for gaming. Powers though everything just dandy and can run things like CS:GO on my 120hz monitor well enough to take advantage of the 120fps. Stays much cooler than a lot of the other R9 290's from what I've read. Is not that loud, or at least isn't the loudest thing in my case. Overclocks decently well but not with AMD's software.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: amCase Case/Sleeve compatible with HP Chromebook 14 and other 14.1 inch Chromebooks/Laptops/Ultrabooks Protective Neoprene Cushion with Handle (Black); Brand: amCase; Review: Sturdy and narrow with a couple extra pockets. Handles are a nice touch, was a little worried they might not hold up but have done fine. For the price this is a great product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AUDIST SX-3511 Earphones with Inline Universal Microphone and 1-Button Call for all Apple, Android and MP3 Devices – White; Brand: Audist; Review: Broken now. Like all headbuds they sounded meh and broke in a few weeks.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Samsung 3.5mm Stereo Headset with Volume Key for Galaxy S4 - Non-Retail Packaging - White; Brand: Samsung; Review: I am pretty sure these were not OEM, they didn't sound as good. They held up okay, and the sound leak was not horrible.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tendak SPDIF Optical Audio Switcher 3x1 with Remote Control Digital TOSLINK Switch Box Support 5.1CH 5.1CH/ LPCM2.0/ DTS/ Dolby-AC3; Brand: Tendak; Review: This is a nice little switch that will take three signals and let you switch between them. Currently I'm only using 2. The remote is a little comical in how simple it is that they still bothered to include it. I also have a hard time understanding why someone would need to switch that around so often they wanted a remote, but maybe I'm just not that complex with my setup and don't comprehend how some people are using this thing. It is pretty simple the way I'm using it but it seems to be working great. If anything changes I will update this review! **I received this product at a discount in exchange for my unbiased and honest review. If my impressions of this product change I will update my review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Digital Audio Cable (6 Feet) - TOSLINK Fiber Optic (S/PDIF, ADAT, EIAJ) - Braided Cord; Brand: Black Squid; Review: Works great for what it's made for. The cable I had supplied to me was a little short so this was great for getting to my stereo. I expected it to take longer to be delivered so it was awesome when it came faster than predicted. I see it's unavailable now which sorta stinks as I like what I got and it seems to sound just fine. I don't have any way to test the quality of the out put fortunately but non of my other hardware is giving me any guff so I assume it's working just fine. The plus seems well made and substantial. The crimping seems well done and everything seems firm and well connected. **I received this product at a discount in exchange for my unbiased and honest review. If my impressions of this product change I will update my review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Faena Hotel; City: Buenos Aires Capital Federal District; Review: I stayed at this hotel last year and am about to stay there again this August. After seeing all the bad reviews however I wanted to express my feelings about the hotel even before I stayed a second time. SOME PEOPLE JUST DONT GET IT. And thats fine, but this hotel is a work of art and amazing ... Everyone who is anyone in Buenos Aires eats and hangs out there. You wont find them at the Ritz. The service is a bit different, but wonderful after you get your bearings. The location isn't as central as you might like, but this is why true creame de la creame Argentineans come here. That and the stunning restaurant and bar. This is a place to be beautiful in. Pull out your Prada and your vintage Halston. No were else in the world is this sort of life this accessible ... And your entre is a simple room key.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel du Theatre by Fassbind; City: Zurich; Review: There is nothing human about the hotel du theatre. If all you want is a location fine. The rooms are small in the worst way .. with sharp coners on everything. The staff are lazy, and since there is no air con, hot, so they are reluctant to help or be friendly outside of checking you in. DONT BE FOOLED BY THE USE OF THE WORDS COOLING SYSTEM ... And Im not saying this as a Fat American tourist ... I stayed in smaller rooms and not felt this un-cared for ... Nothing was thought out... try and open a window to cool off and you knock over a chair. try to move the chair in to get some room to move around, and you find a ledge. Take a shower and the whole bathroom is sopping wet ... Towels? you must be joking. Open the closet door and you must position yourself just so as to not cut your foot on the shape edge of the bed. The lighting in the bathroom is extermely hot and since everything is wet quickly becomes a sauna .. not a good thing when you are trying to shave. But the real kicker is arriving at the door past 12 am and finding the front desk man has passed out in the second floor cafe.( I know because after I got in I saw him in there myself snoring whilst someone else was buzzing the door.) NO AMOUNT OF RINGING OR BANGING WILL RISE HIM. At this point simply walk across the street and ask the guy at hotel Rutli to call for you. And he very kindly will. Please tip him as he will go out of his way to help you. In fact plan on staying there as I can see in the rooms and they are nicer, but if for nothing else do it for the night doorman .. really a nice man. The front desk will inform you the next day that there is a way of opening the front door with your room key ( a great thing to know after the fact ) But when they show you how .. dont feel bad you didnt see it .. really...And the doorman from across the way will be more than happy to help you find it .. even After 2 am. Once I was able to get into my hot room I cut my leg on the bed and decided never to stay here again, and I hope after reading this .. you wont either. If you are cheap and dont mind being treated like cattle this is your hotel .. but if you want to feel like someone wanted you to be happy while in Zurich ... stay across the street at the Hotel Rutli.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Britania Hotel a Lisbon Heritage Collection; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: This hotel is wonderful, The staff are fantastic and speak perfect english. The rooms are charming and so are the public spaces .. think understated arte deco. You could'nt ask for a better location one street east of Libertade and near the main park .. There is no iron in the room so plan ahead to have things pressed; This only because of the beautiful cork floors, and thus you must make an exception for they are worth it. Outside of that every need is met with extremely large rooms and friendly staff. Staying here made Lisbon enchanting ... And though I think I would have loved it anyway, I love it more because I felt so taken care of.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Greulich Design Lifestyle Hotel; City: Zurich; Review: Do you want to know what its like to live in a minimalist home but no guts to do it? Form follows function at this work of art ... There are small staff, and Swiss lack of polite service issues .. some staff dont speak english as well as you might want, and dont ask for anything strange like .. "can you call DHL, and ask them what the rate is for 50 kilos to the US will cost" and expect a correct answer. Though they will be polite while implying its an easy mistake (think beauty not brains and you will be alright) .. That said all your basic needs will be more than met. And then there is the feel of the place that will exceed them. I went in the winter .. and found myself enchanted by the look of the birches and snow. I had a small Suite that was Bi-level and felt like the country house in ' A CLOCKWORK ORANGE', Just walking into the cental area outside the rooms brought a smile to my face. The room was huge and felt like I had a small apt. And the location in a central, hip, residential area added to the feeling .. There were two trams and a bus within a 2 min walk which brought me to everywhere I wanted to go within 10 to 15 mins .. about the same amount of time it takes to get from Houston to Lexington.. Or Downtown to Shaker Hts. ( I am a Cleveland native after all); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: B Hotel; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: B-Hotel was decent .. Ok location, easy to find, and easy to tell a cab driver where it was. It was hip without being painful. Loved the room, and the service, while still Spanish, was better than other hotels I've stayed at in Barcelona. (maybe because the girl I delt with the most was German.) Did it make my trip special ... no, Outside the room itself, a Chic'er copy of the Hilton in Athens, ... the so so attitude of the staff really kept you on edge as to what you might have to deal with if you really needed them ... Lucky for us I didnt. This being my 8th trip to Barcelona all I needed was a place to lay my head ... The room more than delivered there. Everything worked and did it in a modernist .. cool . way ... So maybe not the best hotel for first timers, or shoppers .. but good if you love the city ... like design, and know what you are doing in Barcelona.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Five Cool Rooms; City: Buenos Aires Capital Federal District; Review: 5 cool rooms was in the best location in BA .. near the hip shopping district and cool restaurants .. Check out Mark's Deli ( I know the name sucks) for when ever you need an, "odd for south American, but normal for you lunch" though you wont find many Americans there .. Another plus.. Surrounded by young artist galleries a Hip cutting edge paper store, and Fashion. 5 cool rooms really sets a great get it right inside as well as out .. Chic rooms and lobby, great reading and wifi, The staff leave a little to be desired, but better than Europe if not quite international in there service or interest in giving service. You sometime feel like they think they are doing you a favor by being there at all, LOL but all in all a well thought out hotel with fantastic modernist appeal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NH Montevideo Columbia; City: Montevideo Montevideo Department; Review: I had been to Montevideo before and stayed at a large American Chain hotel (check my profile to read about it).. It was the most awful experience I have had abroad. And then by chance a local friend in Uruguay asked why I didn't stay here at the NH Columbia. It made my whole 10 days in the city a completely wonderful experience. Its sad to say that it takes a hotel to do it, but this one delivers. Ask for a room on a high floor facing the Rio Del Plata. Every day I rose to a dark stormy winter sky with fingers of sunlight streaming into the river (feels like a sea as you dont see the other side). Staff was friendly (speaking spanish helps but even with English they worked it out in the end), As a long stay traveler some times you just want some thing decent to eat at an odd hour. And while not outstanding .. everything I had was what I ordered and tasted fine. The location is good .. the clubs aren't far. and there is a wonderful market near selling all sorts of antiques and crafts .. from old silver napkin rings to jewelry.. to old Paintings as well as hip young kids work. Montevideo is hard to know where to go .. Get to know some locals on line and find out where they go. People are friendly and trust worthy so dont be shy .. I love it there and I plan to go back again this August. I had had a so so experience at the Raddison/Sheraton that I didnt want to repeat .. and at NH columbia .. I didnt have to. And that View every day .. really made my trip; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental Wellington; City: Wellington Greater Wellington North Island; Review: [--] hotel, really [--] room, dated and lame, should have stayed at the Oh-hotel... and would have if they wouldnt have been fully booked....; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn by Marriott Columbus Downtown; City: Columbus Ohio; Review: Ok .. its new, its clean, it takes dogs, centrally located and its an apartment... there is nothing better in Columbus outside of a private guest house. Accommodation is really nasty in this town, so of the worst... its by far the best, and thus I have stayed here often enough... If you have to stay in Bumpus, then stay here, and bring your dog....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Glenapp Castle; City: Ballantrae South Ayrshire Ayrshire Scotland; Review: ... Staff magically appear just when you need them, and never when you don't.... gardens, hikes, sport .... wonderful afternoon tea, and dinner.... rooms are very much what you would think a castle would look and feel like, bathrooms are indulgent, a truly "special" experience. One gets exactly what one pays for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Jeanne D Arc; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: here's the deal ... The Hotel is old, the hotel has some odd color combinations in the rooms ... the Hotel is extremely french, Chic young people stay there so they can spend their money else where, and because the location is amazing. There are quarks, and there are downsides, but over all its the French experience. I love this hotel. I stay there almost everytime I go to Paris. Its especially fun during fashion, and textile weeks. BOOK IN ADVANCE or you get a smaller room on a higher floor. Be polite to the reception as they will love you for it, and they can make or break a vaction if they think you're an -----. I choose "excellent" for this hotel not because its really beautiful ... stay at the Georges 5 for that ... Nor because its pampering ... stay at the Ritz for that, but because for what you pay you get ten times more than you deserve. And you will find europeans in your hotel unlike the holiday inn, (which I have never stayed at but can only imagine), and so you will have a real european (as much as thats possible in a week) experince; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Novotel Queenstown Lakeside; City: Queenstown Otago Region South Island; Review: They will nickel and dime you to death, Internet is a rip, and so are drinks in the bar, the staff aren't allowed to recommend local business if they offer the same services... aka their spa .. etc etc ... ( I found Body Sanctum ask for Jonathan- is on par with 10,000 waves in Santa Fe, but I had to find this on my own).. They will also get you to use their tour company but its cheaper and easier to rent a car... Rooms are dated and tattered, and four floor reno is tacky at best , though you will be charged a premium rate for the same un-renovated crap room two floors blow... honestly I would never stay there again...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Hotel Telluride; City: Telluride Colorado; Review: This hotel made my stay in Telluride exceptional.... the front desk staff are amazing, they are willing to go out of their way to make you feel at home.. No request was to large or too small, they even arranged last min transportation from Cortez when my flight to Telluride airport was canceled... the breakfast is excellent (though beware of the kitchen staff they can be abrasive and expect tips for a so so effort at self serve service buffet) ... be sure to tip everyone else though as they truly are a cut above the rest especially Krista and Ignacio. I plan to always stay here... outside of the minor breakfast blip it really was one of the best stays I've had in a ski resort; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Portillo Hotel; City: Portillo Valparaiso Region; Review: Dirty, expensive, and a condescending ignorant staff... never again.. food was excellent however we watched as they returned the unused cheese and jelly from the afternoon tea to the vats in which they are kept.. and one can assume that is the case with pretty much all of the food, soap, and laundry... if the prices weren't so high .. (5 star prices) I wouldn't be so critical .. but it was a youth hostel environment and treatment for Aspen prices so something has to be said.. I prefered Queenstown New Zealand for summer skiing or Valle Nevado if you must ski south America ... never again will I waste my time going to Portillo and I suggest you don't either ..; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rooney s Boutique Hotel; City: Buenos Aires Capital Federal District; Review: Day staff at the front desk were excellent, however night staff (after 11pm) were awful and useless. Room was noisy, with windows in the bathroom that wouldn't close and someone smoking cigarettes on a flat below left the room smelling like an ash try... dingy furniture and linens, and inconsistent cleaning left me depressed... the neighborhood surround left much to be desired, and while its easy to access.. you must walk several blocks to find something lovely to eat or see... This is Buenos Aires .. and it is a wonderful, beautiful city ... do not end up in the dive when there are so many better choices ..; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Park Tower a Luxury Collection Hotel Buenos Aires; City: Buenos Aires Capital Federal District; Review: Wonderful service, however extremely dated decor, and could they put one more piece of paper clutter on the surfaces especially in the bathroom?... Internet requires a cord ... peach marble explosion everywhere.. there are so many other more lovely locations and hotels in this wonderful city one wonders how this hotel stays open... Old women love it Im sure .. room service is decent if pricey; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Niagara Falls Marriott on the Falls; City: Niagara Falls Ontario; Review: Seriously? I have read all the reviews of this hotel and am shocked!!! The hotel was awful.. foul decor dates back to golden girls (etched lilies in large window between bathroom and bedroom, tinted bronze mirrors, dirty windows facing the falls.. and a bed you could feel the springs coming up on)... and this was the nicest room on offer, at a shocking 250.00 a night... really? The hotel was understaffed, the car port was congested with parked cars around the clock, due to lack of staff... the concierge, were useless, and often took both persons working the desk to help one person, making others wait... Add to the fact that this destination while not only tacky, nickel and dimes you for everything...and I mean nickel and dimes, so be sure to have plenty of change, If you are American do not plan on using the ATM at the hotel .. it wont take visa Debit cards.. I had to be here for an interview with Nexus to receive a free access customs attachment for my passport, otherwise Niagara falls would never even entered my radar .. I didn't know what to expect...and was shocked at what I found .... DONT GO, but mostly Dont stay here if you have to... I did end up using the help desk at the Marriott across the street .. better access to the falls, and more staff, very helpful and the ATM works .. Good luck...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hotell Anno 1647; City: Stockholm; Review: Everything you could want in a Stockholm hotel. We went for the nicer room on the 1st floor, Private part of the hotel. The decor was hip-modern, in that lovely minimalist Scandinavian way (minimal, however not marginal or lacking). The only thing that made me mark the "value" button lower than the rest was the quality of the internet... I had a hard time even pre-checking into my flight ( I lost my upgrade window because of its inability to function properly).. it was laborious and often didn't work at all, which I found surprising since Swedes are known, and truly are efficient in everything they do .. maybe it was a fluke, but don't plan on needing even basic high speed internet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Don Boutique Hotel; City: Montevideo Montevideo Department; Review: I have been coming to this city for the past 8 years... The amount of change over this period is amazing. There is nowhere better stay, and while the idea of such a hotel in this city is very new I will be interested in seeing how it progresses. I hesitate to make any negative comments about this place because Im so proud of Montevideo for reaching this point. And the staff are wonderful and very helpful... The rooms are large, lots of light, but somehow get lost in translation design wise .. a little bit too 1985 post modern for me. Lots of glossy black, and frosted glass. But it tries so hard to be something international, and does so many things right , that I hate to even nit-pick .. stay here .. you won't regret it, and I repeat there is no where better .. the big American Chains are nasty, with filthy rooms and bad service .... For Montevideo .. this is the only hotel worth your time ..; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Casa Andina Premium Arequipa; City: Arequipa Arequipa Region; Review: This is by far the best hotel in Arequipa that I saw.. Staff are hit or miss concerning helpfulness as well as their english comprehension though one didnt always mean the other ( I speak spanish so it helped but I found the nasty uninterested staff members were the same in english or spanish) While the lovely, helpful ones would try to help in anyway possible, I found the women to be much better than the men ... Breakfast is awful, but I dont know where else one would go at 7 am so you're stuck. However dinner restaurant is fantastic, if empty. Perhaps the hotel should invest a little more in the morning fare to entice lodgers to eat dinner there ... The city is lovely but no more than a 2 day stay necessary ... and do not fall into the trap of asking staff where the best shopping or restaurants are, they will lead you to the tourist traps and then become pushy every time they see you afterward ... Keep your head down, do not expect too much from the hotel, but know its worse else where .. see other review.. All that said .. location is good .. and hotel public areas are lovely .. WIFI IS WORTHLESS especially at night ..; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hotel Telluride; City: Telluride Colorado; Review: This is my 4th stay at Hotel Telluride... The staff are amazing, Ive had friends who've stayed at other local hotels, and have had major problems with hotel staff... THIS IS NOT THE CASE with this hotel. My only complaints are waiting for the free hotel shuttle, at the hotel to the gondola.. they claim ten mins but I have waited up to 20, when its cold, and you're tired this can be frustrating... though counter point is the town shuttle (the galloping goose) is a good alternative and it will drop you off at hotel as well. Pros far out way the cons .. and I highly recomend staying here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Liss Ard Estate; City: Skibbereen County Cork; Review: Loved this hotel, I stayed two nights a sunday though to tuesday and with a bit of off season luck had the whole house to myself. All public spaces are set up as if you are visiting friends with a large country home. Clean, crisp white walls covered with modern art work, and wide plank wood floors are completed with large victorian windows and high ceilings. Views from the house are magnificent. Grounds do not disappoint either with a modern living art installation, "The Irish sky garden" is an earth and stone work crater created by famed artist James Turrell as ground's center piece. Staff are friendly and helpful, I had a cottage room off the courtyard with views of the walled garden and sheep. Modern and sleek designed, I felt right at home. Its a shame one of these isnt dotted all over Ireland, as this is exactly what I had hoped to find on my Journey. Absolutely do ask about the History of the house, from Famine to international intrigue... its a great story ..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Clarence; City: Dublin County Dublin; Review: While the staff are extremely helpful, this hotel is an utter let down. Rooms are run down, televisions have hardly any channels that are spread over several blank stations, and have very very tiny screens. Strange water pressure variations between tub and sink. Odd lighting situation with switches that make lighting one part of the room impossible without lighting the other and without any sense, while other parts of the room work as expected. Walls are dingy and beat up. Air flow is complicated, as is heating and cooling, and while a cheap fan is provided its hard to find a location for it that makes sense. Furniture in the entire hotel is dated looking, and one elevator with no close door option means you get to wait and stare inside or out of it. Window blinds are cheap and semi-useless, My hotel room had a cracked glass pane .. I had a river side room at a premium and it suffered huge noise issues from traffic and hotel club. Location is central but noisy... Hotel is cheap with providing enough towels, no bath robes, and subpar with mini bar offerings. Dinning was also subpar .. this hotel is really a let down ..; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dromoland Castle Hotel; City: Newmarket on Fergus County Clare; Review: Castle grounds are magnificent, a handful of public rooms don't disappoint. however hallways are dingy and Mauve. The personal rooms are extremely dated and feel like something off the QE2 circa 1987, Horrible decor that even your English Grannie would scoff at. Mauve and Pink abound everywhere.. EVERYWHERE!!!. My seating area was dirty and worn with some sort of brown stain along the bottom of the sofa (Im thinking to myself 5 stars ... really? 2 maybe). Brass and cornflower blue greet you at door after a long walk though mauve pink hall ways... seriously I felt extremely out of place. I kept wondering when the pinchener tour bus was going to let out and flood the halls .. I recommend, lunch and a walk along the park, but do not stay here.!! Of course I demanded another room: Room two was slightly better size wise but decor was exactly the same only more of it, at least the windows weren't port holes like room one. Room three Was the grandest of all, however it was so Laura Ashley circa 1989 I felt like I was stuck in some American Mc Mansion in Dallas of that era... The hotel reeks of an old folks home, the only thing missing is the smell of Urine. That said .. Staff were wonderful and food service was charming, well done and of a period long past... Again eat here, walk the grounds .. stay some where else.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Boutique Hotel Heidelberg Suites Small Luxury Hotels; City: Heidelberg Baden Wurttemberg; Review: I love this hotel, the location is prefect. The design is elegant from the lobby to the bathrooms. Excellent tasteful and a little quirky, and oh so hip, yet completely classic .. just the way I like it. Staff are helpful and considerate. And its located in the most beautiful city in Germany so it begs for a return visit. The name is my only complaint, To an American ear is sounds extremely low budget.. DONT BE FOOLED, its like stepping into a wealthily baron's home as a guest, replete with an outdoor garden rising up the hillside behind and stone great danes to guard the back door .. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ecoscape Cabins; City: Port Hardy Vancouver Island British Columbia; Review: Loved this experience, the cabins are well appointed, funky bathrooms that function well. and great location in the woods mins from Port Hardy. Please fix the hammocks though .. I would have likes a nap outside. (grin); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: First Hotel Grims Grenka; City: Oslo Eastern Norway; Review: Where to begin... The hotel does so many things nearly right, but nothing well. Desk staff is sincere but useless... How can they not know where the nearest metro stop is, or which tram to take to the sculpture park? Or if there is a nearby restaurant open after 21:00.. Lobby is chic till you see the art work which is dreadful. Rooms are chic till you cant see in the bathroom or figure out how to sort out the lighting system ( no simple on or off buttons but buttons that say things like Work and Party, seriously.. party? No a disco ball doesn't drop, so I don't get the point ). Shower is difficult to operate at first, though it looks good, however once you get it working it splashes water all over bathroom floor even though there is a door. No Bell staff. No check in before 3pm even if the hotel is empty, even though most flights arrive in the morning. Large rooms but dim lighting, and no outside light, so one wonders what the weather is like ... coolish design but odd proportions. Does it beat anything else on offer in Oslo .. Yes.. is it all it wants to be or should be? .. not even close ... but then for 200 a night .. I should just shut up.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi; City: Santa Fe New Mexico; Review: So the 500.00 Santa Fe question is answered. While there are some sweet touches to the hotel experience, having stayed at nearly every 5 and 4 star resort except this one (until now) none of what this place offers is worth the extra money. Not at this price point.. I have a feeling for the 1000.00 a night traveler its a fantastic place.. however for those of us whom are only Upper Middle Class.. trust me this hotel is a rip-off. My car was lost, the dinning room host on Christmas morning turned up his nose at my sweat shirt breakfast attire (it was 9am Christmas morning, and yes me and my pal were wearing crowns as well as sweat pants)... The room faced trash cans and a parking lot. The bathroom sink wouldn't drain, and the hardwood floors by the elevator were filthy and rutted. Look had it been a 200 dollar a night experience I would have said it was fine, but when other amazing hotels offer so much more for 500.00 a night or even 280 a night.. I'm gonna be picky. CLEAN UP YOUR ACT INN OF THE ANASAZI .. or its gonna be curtains for you.. I cant believe this is a Rosewood property, because Im usually super pleased with the chain.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Jerome Auberge Resorts Collection; City: Aspen Colorado; Review: Part one, The Hotel Jerome: Amazing! I can't say enough about this property. I loved everything about it. The design is flawless, the staff are too. I felt appreciated and taken care of the whole time. All interaction with the hotel was a please except.... Part two, Gorsuch : This unfortunately is the company The Jerome has decided to partner with for ski rental. While on the surface it makes sense Gorsuch is a luxury retailer, however its customer service is better suited for a trailer park. I have had past experiences with this company in Vail and cringed when I saw that they were the Jerome partner. That said there are standouts (nice and service oriented staff) that try and make up for the general character of the company .. but in general at the end of the week you leave with a bad taste in your mouth. Worse are the staff at the ski rental in town. Especially when one is about to buy skis... at full retail... (they are even stingy at comping demo days .. really Gorsuch?), This to me says that they are money desperate, and as such they should try offering a level of customer service and programs that place them at the top of the heap, not the bottom of the barrel. I have raveled all over the world, shopped hundreds of luxury brands, and its rare that I encounter the level of sub-par interaction that I have had with Gorsuch especially here in Aspen. JEROME, beware, you've done such an outstanding job with your amazing hotel, and staff .. to allow this to tarnish all your hard work. Jerome guest... go elsewhere for you ski rentals, especially Demos .. the front desk will give you suggestions for other ski shops who will deliver your skis to the hotel for you, and you'll be better off for it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hindsgavl Slot; City: Middelfart Funen and Islands; Review: Handsgavl Slot is, on the outside, a magical place.. Step inside and you are sorely disappointed.. every public room has become a dinning hall and very little of the splendor is left. I will say that my modern room, in the formal stable, was in fact lovely.. but I felt more as if I were in some uber chic metropolitan location than in the castle setting. Staff are awful, I arrived 30 mins early and was told I could not check into a room before one.. The room I ended up in promptly at 1 was one I was able to see into while waiting for staff to let me check in .. it was empty and clean and there is no reason other than laziness or spite, that I wasn't allowed to enter it 30 mins before. really all I wanted was to drop my bags off, make a quick change, use the toilet and head out for the day.. I was also told there there was no history in English for the slot.. in a manner that felt more like being told off than being sorry about it. The woman who told me this in her trite disposition, then returned to dusting glass shelves, like that out weighed customer service.... Here's the deal ... The place has been gutted and turned into a conference center.. they tend to large parties that pay a premium to host conventions, seminars and meetings there.. as a lone traveler I just wasn't worth the time or effort, simple as that. I will conclude that while the food in the restaurant was nice, the atmosphere was loud and one couldn't hear one's self think .. service was slow.. and the attitude reflected that of the check in staff ... Lovely place .. great location, poor staff.. they could use a customer service seminar...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dragsholm Castle; City: Hoerve Odsherred Municipality West Zealand Zealand; Review: This is perhaps the most authentic castle stay I've had... The public rooms are filled with antiques which you can touch, sit on, read.. nothing is off limits. The room I had was the only let down in comparison, though modern enough, perhaps a little too tacky contemporary.. with a poorly made lavender head board and odd Ikea imitation furniture, if you can imagine anyone wanting to imitate Ikea, here it is... Staff where friendly if useless, Your bags will need to be lugged up stairs with no help. The restaurant was excellent, and the gardens charming.. The entire experience, even with its let downs, were well worth the effort. Even the Grey lady walking on the roof at 3 am was worth it. ( Her bones can be seen in the walls off one of the public rooms !!); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Plesner; City: Skagen North Jutland Jutland; Review: What a pleasant surprise, a lovely little hotel with a kind, caring staff.. lovely chic rock garden and light airy rooms. I loved my night here.. I found it by accident and am glad of it .. really a fantastic little hotel and restaurant..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nines a Luxury Collection Hotel Portland; City: Portland Oregon; Review: I will start with my usual design hotel disclaimer: " When a hotel calls it's self a luxury design property I feel completely within bounds to judge it as such" With that said, let me present THE NINES Portland. The staff are excellent for the most part though some of the valet and bell staff, especially one or two of the head Valet staff have attitude issues. It takes 15 mins to get your car, some times longer, and this is unacceptable. For this kind of wait, in such a small city, the valet should almost be free, or the hotel needs to hirer more staff, (NOT) as there never seemed to be a lack of front door employees idling around. On at least 3 occasions (in 24 hours) I counted 7 employees doing nothing and my car still took 15 mins. Im not sure how that is possible. If it's a relay issue, get better cell phones... this is meant to be a luxury property, not a Hyatt. The public rooms are just so-so with one or two good moments and several bad. The decor is an odd mix of transitional (think pottery barn boring) and mid-century (excellent but senseless here) coupled with post-modern art (junk, mannequins painted plum and teal ). Whoever designed the place seems to have been quite sophomoric in their design education because it reminds one of a student project, where-in you mix disparate pieces to make a ramshackle collective. I have seen this work (though rarely) but in this case it just conflicts. The space itself is nice, although the architecture of the interior court yard is rather bland 1950's traditional (not modern) of a preexisting building the hotel was built around. You enter sensing it should be amazing, but looking up and around at it you're underwhelmed. The rooms are done up in passé bordello chic, already soo dated, in fact so much so they were dated two years before the hotel was completed, common for any overly trendy aesthetic, but especially sad in this case. Finished in tiffany blue, white pearlescent leather, and crushed velvet, they remind one of nightmare version Ava Gabor's apt in Green Acres. In fact I expected her to call any min and demand her stuff back, and upon receiving it slap the sender in the face for making such a mess of it. I understand that this look happened, I also understand it was over at least 3 years ago and nearly as soon as it started. All in all the design experience was rather tragic, and I really wanted it to be amazing. Ive stayed at The Westin and it was far more sincere, and while its a typical Westin with a bit of a Pacific Northwest edge, at least it doesn't claim to be anything that its not.. They are both Starwood properties, and you wont wait 15 mins or more for your car there.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Westin Great Southern Columbus; City: Columbus Ohio; Review: I am in general a big fan of Starwood properties. Of all the chain hotels one can stay at I find them to be of the highest quality for the upper middle range. Better than most Marriotts, Sheratons, Hiltons, Hyatts etc etc etc (though Hilton has come a long way and are getting better all the time). The pet policy of this property was outstanding (well sorta .. see below), however the property its self is a little bit of a let down. The shower was so tiny you could hardly move, the room was equally as bad (small) and exceptionally devoid of character. There were lined curtains but no shears with so little lighting in the room, that you were either in darkness, or (because I faced west) blazing sun. THE VALET STAFF were over zealous, (please step back and let me collect myself, my dogs, and my personal items) and were continually adjusting my car seat .. even moving the head rest up and down (really?)... There was a fantastic front desk staff, but whoever I called down to at 8:3oam to tell them I was taking my dogs out for several hours ( a hotel necessity for cleaning the room), I still came back three hours later to her excuses and a messy room. I had the only pets in the hotel so if its your policy that they need to be out of the room, if I give you a few hours, if I call down, make it clear, If I am told it will be taken care of .. you need get it together, and take care of it please, I am not here to sit around, Im here to enjoy the city and while doing so I am paying your salary... this shouldn't be a complicated connection, but somehow it was. I got some ramshackle excuse, and a little attitude about how I left at 8:30 .. and staff doesn't get in till 9.. that said, I was out of the room till nearly noon .. again, get it together. All of this said. The location was excellent, all of the other staff were cool, the hotel seemed to do a great job of sorting out their parties, and keeping them from effecting guests. They put me on the fifth floor which is where they pause the second elevator, I thought was extremely thoughtful since I had dogs to take out. Its moments like these that make Starwood your best bet, even this property. I would stay here again. But make it clear my car seat headrest shouldn't move, I will be expecting a clean room upon my three hour return, and a room facing south or north, but still on the fifth floor.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotell Anno 1647; City: Stockholm; Review: This is my fifth stay at this hotel and it has yet to disappoint. Even when an issue arrises the staff are more than willing to sort it out... just be clear about what it is you need and expect. Usually I have stayed in the modern room side of the hotel, this time however I took a deluxe room with a large bed in the original side. It's utterly different than hip modern side of the hotel, but quite charming in a shabby Chic sort of way, and you really feel the age of the hotel, which given it's name, is the point. Slightly Gustavian furnishings and soundless courtyard windows made sure I had a pleasant rest. And the beds are comfortable with cotton linens. The breakfast is outstanding and included with plenty to choose from, though I wish they'd put more of the little meat balls out. I have stayed at a few other hotels in the city, but for the price, and the location as well as the quality.. I've found none better.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inn at Vanessie; City: Santa Fe New Mexico; Review: Ok so you've come to Santa Fe and you've chosen Inn at Vanessie. Somehow you were able to look past the cheese name, and some of the bad room photos, ( I don't know about all the rooms but my room " The Sioux" was wonderful. Those awful peach colored wall rooms, thank god, were not ours), and you've discovered what a charming hotel it actually is. Cliche or no I prefer my hotels have a more "south-western" name, Black Bear Inn, or something of the like would better suit and draw more customers; Vanessie to me says cheap Italian food…But look past the name seriously... That said, and I say this from experience, there are few better in Santa Fe. I've stayed at The Inn of the Anasazi, La Fonda, Loretto, and.. well, pretty much all of the others, and this is as good as it gets for the most part.. especially for the price... A few miss steps such as too many tables and benches but NO dresser ( I don't hang my sweaters, and because of all the unneeded furniture, we couldn't leave our suit cases in a place were we could access them easily, AGAIN REMOVE THE BENCH AND ROUND TABLE AND PUT IN A DRESSER!!!!(and a full length mirror while you're at it please), the hot water in the sink didn't work, but the shower was fantastic. In-Wall bathroom heater didn't work and floors were freezing, They chopped wood at 8 am for an hour waking us up, but none was delivered to the room creating a sort-of a false economy. ( we invested lack of sleep, but you didn't deliver the wood you keep us awake by chopping). If all rooms don't come with a fire place, be sure to request one that does… You my have to stock your own fireplace, but the charm of it was lovely. You will have to carry your door code with you as there are no keys this, like the lack of a dresser but the addition of tons of useless furniture, was a pain in the behind… However, all of the having been said; Would I stay here again? Perhaps, there are still one or two hotels in the 4 star range I've not tried (already covered the 5 star Anasazi last year and rated it, do check it out) … but when all others have been exhausted? Vanessie would be at the top of the list for a return for sure, Especially if they changed the name to Inn of the …… You fill in the blank.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Columbia; City: Telluride Colorado; Review: A little about myself and Telluride first. I have been coming to this town for the last ten years. I love it, I have tried many of the hotels, probably all the restaurants, and all of the slopes... I can never seem to get enough. So it is with this history that I approach the Hotel Columbia. Here's the deal... There are certainly some advantages to staying in Mountain Village over the town, mainly ski - in and Ski - out... But as far as things to do and evening dinner Nothing beats staying in the town of Telluride it's self.. So how to you get the perfect mix of both? Why Hotel Columbia of course. Located at the foot of the gondola and wrapped around one of the best restaurants in the resort (the Cosmopolitan) it is the prefect combination.. Add to the fact that you have a lovely staff, an included breakfast from afore mentioned restaurant as part of the deal and its a no brainer. I would recommend asking for a room facing the mountain or one of the sides of the hotel. Mine faced the back and was on the top floor .. allowing me one tiny window in a sea of beige. I know the point is the skiing, but if you have to spend any time in your room for any reason at all, it can feel a bit compressed at the back. Also finding space to place things like your helmut, and goggles is a bit tricky as whom ever laid out the room took no time to think about those things.. leaving large, low shelves around the TV totally empty and filling the dresser top with lots of stuff forcing me to rearrange the room so that it would make more sense. They have the same issue with the breakfast bar. But here I am being super picky... and only moaning because I feel in all fairness that if you get room 44 and I didn't tell you about it you'd think I was mad gushing as I have. I did peek in other rooms and found them to be a lot more delightful ... So I think my small issues might simply be that one room, even to the point that it made me hyper sensitive to the layout of the breakfast counter. Guys read those last complaints with a grain of salt... While I wont remove them... The hotel makes up for them completely. Next year I'll just make sure to ask for any room but that one. And I can say with complete confidence that they will remember me and go out of their way to make me happy.. Again Staff were wonderful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: FairBridge Inn Suites Akron Copley Township West; City: Copley Ohio; Review: The room is wet, dead bugs on the phone... Water all along the bed wall. Small excriment by the night stand... ( dog, from a previous stay .. or a rat?) Its late .. we are tired but NEVER AGAIN.. I just can't believe how gross and run down this place is.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Simsbury 1820 House; City: Simsbury Connecticut; Review: Dear Inn Keeper Pam, You made our stay outstanding, the house was beautiful, we especially loved the number of "your favorite room" (s) we were shown, (and not shown ((grin)) ) everyone of which was unique and fabulous, each better than the last (and so on). It just goes to show how much you take seriously your custodianship of The Grand Old Doweger Duchess, and by proxy we your admiring fans and guests. The hotel is in a great location. Pam will tell you where you need to go, what you need to see, and why she thinks you should... All said with good humor, and cheerfulness. She will recomend the hotel dinning room, but then tell you they are booked ( with a twinkle in her eye)... SO BOOK AHEAD OF YOUR TRIP FOOLS... Because everything else she sent us to was amazing, and thus so must be the dinning room. We had a wonderful time, we highly recomend this hotel, and do ask to see as many rooms as you can before you choose one (start at the top and work your way down). Pam loves the opportunity to show the hotel off, and make new friends in the process... Either of us would stay here again alone or together... Again highly recommended. And with a warm hug after you rest your head on a pair of fluffy pillows you'll be sent home better than when you left.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lydmar Hotel; City: Stockholm; Review: I love Stockholm, this was perhaps my 10th visit. And I love Stockholm in winter. You have that beautiful afternoon light during the short day that makes everyone's skin glow, and in the evening its a city filled with candle light. That said this was my first stay at Lydmar. I had eaten in it.. Walked by it l, admired it many times, but I'd never got it together to actually stay there till this trip. I wanted something special for my partners first trip to my favorite place on the planet, something not only chic, but better than trendy.. Something that would reflect our own aesthetic but also that of this amazing city. Lydmar did not disappoint.. Our room, 521, was large ( if this was medium I can only imagine what large is like). The personal touches made the room feel as if we were staying at a friend's house. With more than enough space to relax. A well appointed bath with a deep tub, and a fully stocked mini bar.. I would have liked more storage for clothes, but really a very minor concern. Further the staff were outstanding.. My bags arrived two days later and both Abba ( I'm probably spelling it wrong) and the night desk clerk were on it... Calling, keeping me abreast, and sincerely sharing my outrage at the fact that for most of the delay my bag was traveling around Stockholm.... and not lost in air transit ( it landed only 3 hours after I did but didn't hit the hotel till 36 hours later.. Eda in the restaurant was like an old friend and everyone else was superb. Lastly the location is flawless.. You can walk every where. You're submerged into the most beautiful area of the city with views of the palace, harbor and old town from the front of the hotel, and the tree lined waterfront boulevard of the wealthiest residential area along the back. As I said I love Stockholm, and I love Lydmar.. My partners first trip will not be his last, due in no small part to this hotel, Nor will it be the last time we stay here... Lydmar, not my favorite hotel in the world is a close second .. I take it back... It's number one ... It's just that good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Liassidi Wellness Suites; City: Venice Veneto; Review: After a really awful one night experience at the Hotel Palazzo Barbarigo Sul Canal Grande ( please do read my review of it). We found this gem. The staff are fantastic, breakfast was included with the price and was extravagant, eggs, bacon, pastry, coffee, hot chocolate (made with real chocolate powder), fruit, cheese, bread, yogurt…We had the largest suite which included a jetted tub, a full service sauna, and aroma therapy shower. The room was very large with an eating area, seating area, and windows ( 7 in all) on two sides. One was a balcony facing a pleasant canal. 3 of the 5 rooms in this hotel share the same canal view. I had the pleasure of seeing those other two, and was pleased with how attractive they were.. While those rooms were smaller and no sauna or tub, they were still quite large with a very tasteful color pallet, soft browns and creams.. Honestly I preferred the look of them even to our larger suite .. As my only complaint about our room was TOO MUCH TEAL.. That said even the teal far out ranks any of the chintz clad 5 star hotels on offer else where in Venice. (Or the black dated dungeon like Hotel Palazzo Barbarigo Sul Canal Grande). Couple the location with the willingness of the young staff to make your stay amazing … I can’t think of a better place to return to on my next trip to Venice. If you choose this little villa, Please!!! tell Renetta hello from Mr and Mr Blythe (Sims/Carpenter); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Palazzo Barbarigo Sul Canal Grande; City: Venice Veneto; Review: First clue: You are greeted by being told "you are the last to arrive", something about how it was said gave me pause, and boy was I right. Clue two: You are offered your room “with a canal view” but it’s of the trashy houses across the way, with a huge satellite dish and cheap plastic lawn chairs (trailer park style).You are told “ Its lots of light” 'just don't look out the window.." You are also told “ you are here for Venice, not the view from your room” REALLY?? then why pay these prices? I would like to pause here and add, that their version of “ Venice” means getting lost finding your way back to the hotel, long walks through the trashy parts of town to get to St Marc’s.. or waiting endlessly for the water bus service also impossible to find, um its a vacation, I’m not here to waste 45 mins trying to find a water bus then 2 hours waiting for it at 10 to 15 mins. a pop (do the math). My version of Venice includes, close proximity to St Marc’s, good shopping and restaurants. taking the water bus to attractions, but not all day long to get back and fourth. This for me is a vacation, not hotel Barbarigo’s version? On top of that the hotel expects you to pay 80.00 euro for a travel card, when if you’re walking distance you may spend 40 max on the water bus as you’ll only use it two or three times… REALLY Barbarigo?. shade. Clue three: To see a canal you have to lean out your window and look down this is considered “ A canal view” you can note the sound of a wood saw and see workers. Fourth Clue: The bathroom counter has so many stains on it you can’t tell its been cleaned. Fifth clue: The note in the room is addressed to another couple not you, when you point it out you are told “ we take special, and exact care that the notes in the rooms are for the proper guests”, but when you reply “this note isn’t for us” you are told, "It’s a house keeping issue". Sixth clue: You are offered a room change but it’s only good for two days of the 5 you will be in Venice, when you say, "but I’m on my honeymoon, and we’d like to unpack and relax" you are told “I see you have a lot of luggage perhaps you can live out of that… followed by “ are you traveling the world?” asked of my spouse, and then "we’ll help you move don’t worry” will you help us repack as well… no. We had no idea we were paying this to live out of your suit cases.. Clue Seven: Hotel thinks it knows better how you should travel and what you should expect than you do… Listen lady I have been to over 230 cities.. ALL OVER THE WORLD, and while I may seem to you to have a lot of; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Borgo Scopeto Relais; City: Vagliagli Castelnuovo Berardenga Tuscany; Review: If you were to make a picture in your mind of a villa in Tuscany. You would first have a long drive leading up to it lined with tall thin Cypress. At the end of the drive you would have a formal gate standing watch over a further impressive house, parts of which should be at least 600 years old.. A large gravel court yard and a tower would complete the structure. The grounds would be manicured, with hidden walled gardens leading to further hidden gardens… There would be a bowling green rolling off the back of the house with the Tuscan countryside spread out before you, and a large pool hidden behind a hedge reflecting the sun, moon, and stars in equal measure. The interiors would be tasteful, old school, pale blues (like the sky), and soft grays, coupled with velvet Hermes orange sofa’s with chocolate brown piping … It would have double shuttered windows and french doors that when open would allow in wafted air saturated with the smell of olive, sage, and laurel; a start and finish to each day leaving you to feel as if the world had taken a fresh bath.. And the whole place would be settled into a grape and olive orchards, of the villa itself, and it's neighbors. This is the Villa Borgo Scopeto Relais. Romantic, prefect, timeless… My only regret was we didn’t have more time to spend here. A great location for accessing all of Tuscany, and close to Siena ( and Florence) for meals when you don’t choose to dine in the excellent hotel restaurant. There are tennis courts and fantastic house wines coupled with a friendly, helpful staff that make your stay special; as if you were a guest of a wealthy family rather than a hotel. All of this adds to the magic of the place. This is Tuscany at its very best.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MCM Elegante Lodge Resort; City: Ruidoso New Mexico; Review: We booked this hotel under its old name The Lodge at the Sierra Blanca... The old name is slightly more fitting, though the place is a dump under any name. We were given a room with a view... of a dead potted plant on top of astro turf. A dirty spa tub with filth in the jets.. The staff were friendly enough... But the sad state of affairs they called a suite was NOT worth what we paid.. Think a run down holiday Inn with a beat down kitchen where nothing matched. The timer fireplace ticks so loud the last thing you want to do is sit near it... It was an inslut that the new name only poured salt on the wound is a given .. Elegante ? In what universe?; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The 404 Hotel; City: Nashville Davidson County Tennessee; Review: This hotel describes itself as a design hotel and as such I’m judging it. Let me start with what works: My initial reaction was that it's quite chic. I loved the use of a personal code to get into both the hotel and my room. If I were someone famous, renting of the whole hotel would insure no one would be aware of my coming and going. I loved that I could take my luggage to my room in a matter of steps.. no valet to deal with, and no bellman to wait on or tip. It's small, and on one floor so this system works really well. I also enjoyed the artwork in and out of the room, well done and its current. The style of the small public room is Kind-of-like staying in the loft of a hip friend, a good thing. The hotel bar is past a private entrance door but still part of the same building which makes it handy. Now what almost works : The Parking is close and also private, but if you’re driving anything larger than a Honda CRV, hope that you get the only space that fits a larger car (butt out towards the street against the inside wall) otherwise you’re screwed, we lucked out. The room is cool looking at first glance, but upon closer inspection a little mismatched… “god is in the details” : LMVR… While I love the current trend of old brass, if you’re going to use it, don't mix it with the shiny stuff… How hard is it to find matching towel hooks? One min its sexy 1920’s aged brass and the next its high gloss 1986…? I love subway tile, and white walls mixed with varying period furniture… but then add really cheap industrial lighting.. and it starts to feel try-hard. Over all the room was pleasant enough to look at, but annoying where it fails. For this money, the failures shouldn’t be because of cheap choices. Now what doesn’t work : The air-con is worthless, and hard to get the hang of; the on staff help connection isn’t available after 9 pm, Nashville is humid.. add in worthless air-con., and you can do that math. When they are around, you are treated as if any problems you have are your issue and not the hotel’s, help is offered begrudgingly.. And with a millennial shoulder shrug.. Unacceptable at this price point. You can’t get help once the desk goes to an answering service, even though the service promises you’ll be called back, we called twice, we were never called back. Lastly the rooms are sealed from the outside, thus there is never real air circulation, so while they are super clean, they have a musty smell… Ours had, abate light, an undertone of burn hair and basement. So, unfortunately, the-almosts coupled with failures tipped the scale to a bad experience... In conclusion: My advice to the hotel : Make your windows operational, air those rooms out. Educate your staff on customer service; you’ve made this a small enough; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Splendide Royal; City: Lugano Canton of Ticino Swiss Alps; Review: This is not the hotel time forgot, nor is it the hotel lost in time; It is a timeless place. So few of these grand old hotel exist now, and so few further retain that lazy, lakeside elegance as the Splendide does so well. Our room was in the original side. It felt like something out of “To Catch A Thief”. Unlike the Villa D’Est in Como the staff at this hotel actually want to ensure you have a memorable stay.. Do not misunderstand, my time at D’Est a few years before was lovely, but the staff , while not rude, were indifferent. At Splendide I felt taken care of… Lugano is a short walk away and if you are looking for international luxury brands, you will find them here. The boat around the lake is lovely and the hotel is close to its second stop coming and going. My only two complaints were the lack of a dress code for dinner (some my find this a good thing), and the cooling in our room went out. The latter was handled with such care and grace. We were allowed to keep the large lake view room we booked overnight, and were moved to the Presidential suite, the largest room in the hotel… with its painted 14 foot ceiling salon, dinning balcony and two bathrooms. How Splendide…; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Progressive Industries HW50C Hardwired EMS Surge & Electrical Protection- 50 Amps; Brand: PROGRESSIVE INDUSTRIES; Review: Easy to install, quality product, made in the USA. With digital display it is easy to read the status of the unit and power feeding the RV. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: J.W. Speaker 0347531 Model 279 J 12-24V DOT LED Jeep Tail Light Kit - 2 Light Kit; Brand: JW Speaker; Review: Looks great and easy to install. Other have said that it isn't a perfect fit for the Wrangler, which is incorrect. As long as you get the tabs on the light seated correctly (like the OEM lights) the lights fit perfectly! Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Furrion 381556 FOS48TAPK-BL Wireless High-Speed RV Observation System with Mounting Bracket; Brand: Furrion; Review: Plug and play on my 5th wheel RV. Excellent picture quality. Works great for a backup camera and for monitoring behind your RV while driving. Highly recommended. Update Oct 2017: changed review from 5 stars to 1 Star. After about 6 months this unit has become prone to random reoccurring signal loss issues. With a 32 RV 5th wheel and shortbed pickup truck I see usually 2 signal bars. At times that drops to 1 bar and at that point start getting a pixelized image. Then I get complete signal loss. I have checked the antenna on both the camera and monitor and see no issues. The issue is random where I can drive 100s of miles without issue and then the next trip ill get pixelization and/or signal loss for the entire trip. It occurs in populated and rural areas. The lack of consistency prevents me from isolating the actual issue. I can no longer recommend this unit.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: SiriusLED 30W 1157 2057 2357 7528 BAY15D P21/5W Dual Brightness LED Lights Bulbs with Projector for Turn Signals Reverse Backup; Brand: SiriusLED; Review: Nice color and bright for a DRL. The issue with these lights is the dim residual light that emanates from the bulb after the car is off. Bulbs usually go dark after 20 to 40 minutes. Other Jeep owners have reported the same issues; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blaylock American Metal TL-70 Coupler Lock; Brand: Blaylock American Metal; Review: Works great. Even fits with a Pullrite capture plate installed. Opening with pin has to face the rear of our 5th wheel. Great you can use your own lock. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SUNER POWER Digital 12V Car Battery Tester Automotive Battery Load Tester and Analyzer of Battery Life; Brand: SUNER POWER; Review: Horrible instructions. Tested a deep cycle RV battery with a documented 600 CCA rating. After testing it reported as tested 725 CCA? How can the tested CCA be above the value you enter? Not confident this unit actually provides any valuable information. Returning this item.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Oem Factory Stock 11 12 13 14 2011 2012 2013 2014 XLT Super Duty F-250 F-350 F-450 F-550 Lower Bumper; Brand: FORD; Review: Item arrived very quickly and well packaged. Installed on a 2016 Ford F-250 XLT. Took we about 2 hours due to the tight spaces and not wanting to rush. My truck already had the light sensor installed in the dash. Everything works great and I didn't have to visit the dealer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: DEWALT DWD210G 10-Amp 1/2-Inch Pistol-Grip Drill; Brand: DEWALT; Review: Con: The minimum speed on the drill is about 400 rpm, not zero. This was pointed out by another reviewer. He found out it is a design issue. So, This is a 400-1200 rpm VSR. So it is NOT good for steel, or finely finished drill holes. Pro: Pretty much all of the reviewers here are correct. This is a LOT of drill. Huge torque -- use both hands. Keeps going and going and will shut itself off if you overpush it. Very tough. very reliable. But it is surprisingly light, about 4.9 lbs. I drilled hundreds of 3/4" spade bit holes in studs for running 10 ga romex. The drill barely got warm (the spade bit got glowing hot and had to resharpen 3 times, LOLs). I have a big stucco project coming up, and I have a funny feeling this will make a perfect mud mixer. Edit 3.17: We have using this drill almost daily for mixing and massive multiple hole drilling for 4 months. We also like to use it for wire brushing or sanding. the overload circuit on this is a lifesaver. we run this drill for hours on end and until it shuts itself off for 10 mins. then presto, it starts right back up without a hitch. the price on the 210 has increased unfortunately, but it is worth it, bumping our review up to 5 stars. Edit 3.23: We are buying 5 more of the 210's. it turns out you can buy them used very cheaply, not necessarily on Amazon though (hint hint nudge nudge).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hitachi D13VF 1/2-Inch 9-Amp Drill, EVS Reversible; Brand: Hitachi; Review: Got this a while back as soon as I saw it, I dunno 8 months ago. Runs great, it has tremendous torque, had no mechanical issues with it. I bought it for one reason: 1/2" with electric brake and low top speed. We use it exclusively for driving large numbers of very large screws/bolts so its perfect. Also works great on steel. But its low speed so its not good for mixing, wire brushing, sanding, or drilling lots of holes in wood. The dewalt dwd210 is good for that stuff btw. Unfortunately this drill has some tragic design flaws: 1. it is very heavy and front heavy and torquey so MUST use assist handle, which isn't so bad except... 2. the assist handle has only two positions, left and right side. absence of a top position severely limits how much you can "lean on" the screw head. A real omission. 3. If I use it left handed I constantly hit the reverse button it is annoying and dangerous. Hey hitachi I know most people are RH but a lot of times you have to use your left hand to reach into areas you know. Not a bad value at current pricing. 5 stars for a 1/2 high torque drill with brake 2 stars for serious design flaws 4 stars on value avg 4 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GearWrench 3680 Ratcheting Wrench Serpentine Belt Tool; Brand: GearWrench; Review: This tool works great for emptying your bank account. In fact this has been one of the most non-cost effective wallet drainers I have ever encountered. However it is very shiny and has a cool box. Whenever I think about how much better tool I coulda shoulda had if I had just bought the Lisle or OTC, I reassure myself by admiring the shiny chrome and the coolness factor of owning a genuine made in china Gearwretch.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: ATD Tools 99650 XL Ratcheting Wrench Set with 10 Metric Sizes - 5 Piece; Brand: ATD Tools; Review: Use to crack old and rusty suspension bolts where the impact won't reach.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milwaukee 2351-20 M12 LED Stick Light Bare Tool; Brand: Milwaukee; Review: I have four of these, and use them more than I use the m12 drills and drivers. The optional magnet comes in handy too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ACDelco ARM602-3 3/8” Digital Torque Adapter (3-59 ft-lbs) with Audible Alert; Brand: ACDelco; Review: works well. i use it mostly on the trace, and the audible warning as you approach torque setting is extremely useful. yes it really works down to 3 ft-lbs (36 in-lbs). i use it mostly on cover bolts that have gaskets needing 120 to 180 in-lbs, and bolts into aluminum tapped with fine thread that will strip if overtorqued. very accurate. mine came with a calibration sheet. I wish it was not so expensive though.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milwaukee 2730-20 M18 Fuel 6 1/2" Circular Saw , Brushless (Tool Only); Brand: Milwaukee; Review: had the regular m18 version 2630 it was reliable but a little slow at 3500 rpm. so thought i would upgrade to the 5000 rpm fuel. almost immediately a bad grinding noise happened and oil came out. sent it back and milwaukee fixed it for free they said it was stripped gears. how could this happen on a new tool. this appears to be an anomaly as nobody else is reporting this problem? going good now and definitely cuts faster than the 2630, and a bit lighter too. if you had this problem please respond thanks.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Genius Tools 6 Piece Metric Extra Long Box End Wrench Set DE-706M; Brand: Genius Tools; Review: Excellent tools, very tough.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milwaukee 48-11-1820 M18 18v REDLITHIUM 2.0 Compact Battery Pack; Brand: Milwaukee Electric Tool; Review: Gosh we Love these. We Use these on milwaukee impact wrenches, drills, lights, and drivers in lieu of the fat 4.0's. Hold half the charging power of the 4.0's but they are half the weight, and trust me, that makes a big difference when you are holding them up in the air for 8 hours a day. BUT. For the m18 circ saws, recips, grinders, and rotary hammers, these are not your best choice. Go with the fat 4.0 types.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fenix PD25 550 Lumen CREE XP-L V5 LED Tactical EDC Flashlight with; Brand: EdisonBright; Review: nice light, but its really pricey.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Metal Louvered Panel System with 24 Bins by Ironton; Brand: Ironton; Review: the boxes are well made but lighter duty than akro mils but at half the price its a good deal and hold almost as much weight.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: OLIGHT S1 500 Lumen Cree XM-L2 CW Compact EDC LED Flashlight; Brand: OLIGHT; Review: i rarely give anything 5 stars but this little mite deserves it. totally reliable, bright, and very compact and light.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Runaway Jury (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Missing (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mona Lisa Smile (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secondhand Lions (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cold Creek Manor (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sexy Beast (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 21 Grams (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: In the Cut (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Intolerable Cruelty (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Matchstick Men (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Veronica Guerin (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beyond Borders (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seabiscuit (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miracle (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Haunted Mansion (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Human Stain (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Supremacy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: White Noise (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Aviator (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Phantom of the Opera: Special Edition (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Team America: World Police (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Saw (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vanity Fair (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Closer (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hitch (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hostage (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Are We There Yet? (2005); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hide and Seek (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Constantine (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Million Dollar Baby (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pacifier (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Alexander: Director's Cut (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Man of the House (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In My Country (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Be Cool (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Because of Winn-Dixie (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Plage Hotel; City: Hajduszoboszlo Hajdu Bihar County Northern Great Plain; Review: I've been so many times in this town I can't even count,and I find it a little bit boring,but we go especially for the baths,and only in cold seasons,in summer we find it unbearably crowded.We stay for the first time in hotel,other times we prefered apartments,because the reasonable price hotels are much neglected,and the new ones have unjustified high prices.We choose this hotel after we see the rewievs,and we were very please about all our experiences in it.Young and flexible staff,low prices for this category hotel,spacious rooms,very good food.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maya Pension; City: Szeged Csongrad County Southern Great Plain; Review: Nice, modern apartments, good food, very pleasant staff. From a few steps to the Aquapolis, and you can easily reach the city center with a few minutes walk, on the nearest bridge. Good prices. A little small and crowded parking space, difficult for drivers to reach.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Bristol Milan; City: Milan Lombardy; Review: We were fooled by another hotel, so were relocated here by the traveling agency. I give one point minus from maximum because: 1. the triple room it's actually a king size + a pull-out armchair; 2. the windows are poorly isolated, if you can't sleep in noise, it's a real problem ( it was'nt for us); 3. the wifi connection is not really good. Otherwise the hotel is great. Retro italian style, rooms with all the comfort, huge bed,good and silent heating, exemplary cleanness, neatness, very helpful and nice stuff ( thank you Anton for your kindness :) ) , you feel every minute that they are there for you. Delicious breakfast, with great variety, real coffee and juice. Right next to the Centrale Milano, with all the good connections to the city center and the airports. We start our journey with troubles, but thanks to "bristolers" it turned to be a great holiday.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: IH Hotels Milano Puccini; City: Milan Lombardy; Review: We had chosen the hotel because of the location and the style. I made a reservation four months in advance, and I made the transfer with full payment 3 weeks before the trip. They confirmed it. When we arrived in the front of the hotel, it was closed for renovations. Some nice women from the nearest immobiliar agency helped us, and called them on the phone. They relocate us in another IH hotel. They told us, it's near, about 10 minutes walk. After we consult a gps, it became clear that we need a taxi. The hotel was far away from all the interesting areas. When we arrived, the first thing was to ask me for the local tourist-fee, without saying sorry for the inconvenience, then they gave us a room (we paid for a triple), with one double + one camping bed. I call my agency at home, and they find us another hotel.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Furdohaz; City: Nyiregyhaza Szabolcs Szatmar Bereg County Northern Great Plain; Review: In the best place if you want relaxation. Right near the bath, also close to an adventure park, to the lake, the zoo, and the big park. Cosy, but small rooms. Everything you need in the rooms, but poor maintenance. The breakfast is always the same, but it's very tasty and with enough variety, specially for the 3 star category. The towels, the sheets, the bathrobes was impecable, but the rooms was not clean enough. Dust everywhere, suspicios carpet. They don't clean the room in 4 days we stay there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Honey-Can-Do Large Dual Laundry Hamper with Lid, Natural Resin; Brand: Honey-Can-Do; Review: I have 5 of these. They are the best hampers - very durable and easy to use. Do not waste your money on those crappy mesh hampers that will break in 1 day. I love this product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Whitmor 24 Pocket Over the Door Shoe Organizer - Pink; Brand: Whitmor; Review: I love this. It has lasted me a very long time... Years... And my favorite part is that it doesn't look cheap or bad. I hate those hideous plastic versions and this one looks so much better and easily fits 1 or 2 shoes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sistema To Go Collection Salad Dressing Container, 1.18 oz./35 mL, Pink/Green/Blue/Purple, 4 Count; Brand: Sistema; Review: Great little containers!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pakkon 3 Compartment Bento Box with Airtight Lid, 10 Pack; Brand: Pakkon; Review: I wanted to love these but one of the lids came cracked right out of the package and then every lid except one cracked or broke (mostly along the edges). I was only using them to transport my lunches to and from work so I am really not sure why they cracked so easily. I always hand washed them as well...Disappointing. 3 stars because the portion sizes are good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bissell Zing Rewind Bagless Canister Vacuum, Caribbean Blue - Corded; Brand: Bissell; Review: Great little powerful vacuum! No issues with it, gets the job done, and comes with various attachments. I would recommend this product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Residenza Zanardelli; City: Rome Lazio; Review: I booked this hotel to have a comfortable base from which to experience Rome and it was absolutely ideal. Firstly, the location is perfect, €10 from Termini in a taxi and then within easy walking distance of the Vatican, Coliseum / Forum, Via del Corso and everything in between. It is also very close to some excellent restaurants. Secondly, it is very comfortable, beautifully furnished and very clean, we had clean towels and new toiletries in the bathroom every day. I also felt it was good value, particularly as there was an offer of a free fourth night. Thirdly, it's such a friendly place to be, the team at the desk couldn't do more to help, offering suggestions and advice, and making us feel very welcome. We were very pleased with the whole experience, and this hotel will be our first choice when we return to Rome. 5/5 thoroughly deserved.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flamsbrygga Hotell; City: Flam Aurland Municipality Sogn og Fjordane Western Norway; Review: This is just a really lovely place to be, the service was good, the room was very comfortable and we had a balcony in room 305 that looked out over the most amazing scenery. Be prepared for that view to be totally obscured when you wake up to find a cruise ship outside the window though. The Aegir restaurant next door is a must-do. On our last day, we found that fresh coffee was available in the kitchen next to reception, and that it was a considerable improvement on the decaf sachets in the room, so make sure you find that.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gwesty Minffordd Hotel; City: Tal y llyn Snowdonia National Park North Wales Wales; Review: We stayed here overnight and the hotel was warm and comfortable but for us the stand-out was the food, an evening meal that was very good and the breakfast was even better; a wide range of food sourced locally, cooked to order and served piping hot. The hotel manager was very attentive and we felt very welcome. Please just be aware there is no phone reception in the area, the wifi was problematic and there was no TV in the room or in the bar. We would stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chainbridge Hotel; City: Llangollen Denbighshire North Wales Wales; Review: This was our first stay here and it was very warm, welcoming and comfortable and with a definite feeling that this is how hotels were many years ago. We ate in the restaurant for dinner and breakfast and all the food was very good, with a particular mention for the best bread and butter pudding I've ever had. The view from the balcony over the River Dee is spectacular and is well worth the minor uplift in room price. Overall, it was a really lovely and relaxing experience, we'll definitely be back; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kyoto INN Gion; City: Kyoto Kyoto Prefecture Kinki; Review: There are plenty of reviews on here about the details of the hotel, but I wanted to share my feelings on their attention to the details of customer service; when we arrived it was raining and as we checked in, they provided towels for us to dry our hands and they dried our cases for us. We picked up a tourist map in reception and they had taken the time to mark the location of the hotel in every copy. When we arrived back late with a couple of cans of beer from the 7-11, they noticed and, unprompted, brought cold glasses to the room. Just wonderful service, and the location is spot on for exploring old Kyoto and finding very special restaurants and bars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel Savoia; City: Genoa Italian Riviera Liguria; Review: We really enjoyed our stay here. It has Olde Worlde charm and the service was great, we felt very welcome. We particularly liked the local white wine which was recommended and the breakfast which was really good, both on the veranda on the top floor.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: SpringHill Suites Baltimore Downtown Inner Harbor; City: Baltimore Maryland; Review: Stayed at the Spring Hill Suites on a Saturday night this past July with spouse and 3 kids. Really just a nice little hotel. Great first impression due to the courteous staff and cute lobby. The hotel was once a bank and still has the original, ornate vault which has been converted into a conference room. We traveled to Baltimore via Amtrak and therefore didn't have to worry about parking, however, there's a decent sized parking lot adjacent to the hotel. There seemed to be plenty of spots available in the lot. The hotel is just a block from the Inner Harbor and a short walk to Camden Yards. There's also a bus-stop adjacent to the hotel which offers free transit on a "loop" between the Inner Harbor and Penn Station. The staff pointed this out to us when we inquired about a taxi to take us back to the train station. We saved $20.00 that would have otherwise been spent on two cabs! Our room consisted of 2 double beds and a single sofa bed. The room had an odd layout but was well equipped with a fridge, microwave and wet bar. The sitting area had a nice desk and a wall-mounted flat screen TV. The bedroom area, which was separated from the sitting area by a sort of "half" wall also had a wall-mounted flat screen. Obviously both TV's are not meant to be on at the same time! (The kids had fun trying though...can you say HEADACHE!!) The room was very clean and comfortable. There was a nice continental breakfast offered in the lobby. Nothing to write home about but met our needs before a long day of exploring Baltimore's beautiful Inner Harbor. There's also a well-equipped fitness room downstairs near the vault/conference room. The only problem we encountered during our stay was the addition of a $28.00 valet parking charge to our bill. Upon check-out, we showed the front desk clerk the error and it was removed immediately. We'll definitely plan on staying here on our next visit to Baltimore.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn at the Park; City: Hershey Pennsylvania; Review: PROS: The hotel is very well-kept and quiet. Set back from the main drag, it's located just minutes down the road from Hersey Park and has a peaceful, serene feel to it. The front desk staff were friendly and efficient. Hotel seemed very clean and well run. Free coffee in the lobby was always available and hot. Our kids really enjoyed feeding the many ducks in the pond on the property. (Bring some quarters for the feed dispenser) They offered a free continental breakfast which also included egg patties, sausage and make-it-yourself waffles. It ran from 7am to 10am and we never had any trouble finding a table during our 2 nights there. Our kids used the indoor pool and enjoyed it but we felt there was too much chlorine added for them to safely stay in for more than 15 minutes or so. It's also located very close to shopping and several restaurants. The parking lot seemed very secure and was well lit. CONS: The beds were HARD AS A ROCK! I know this is a personal preference, but they honestly felt just as hard as if sleeping on the floor. My husband, who usually prefers a firm mattress, was even bothered by it. We got very little sleep during our stay there and unfortunately felt quite unrested each day. We did overhear other guests complaining about the same thing, so apparently it wasn't just the beds in our particular room. We left our room after our first night there for the park at about 7am. Upon our return to the hotel at about 4 or 5pm (not certain of exact time) we noticed the hallways full of cleaning carts but no housekeeping staff present. When we entered our room, we found that it had not been cleaned. We were given extra towels (as requested) at check-in and we were only staying one more night so we didn't complain about the lack of housekeeping. Nobody ever knocked on our door that evening to clean and the carts were gone when we left our room about an hour later to go to dinner. It seems that we were just skipped for cleaning. Weird. Another minor issue I wanted to mention - there is only one washer/dryer in the guest laundry room and it's only open from 10am to about 8pm. (I believe that's what the front desk clerk advised) If you plan on doing laundry, you obviously need to decide if it's worth missing time from local attractions. It would have been convenient to have it available early in the morning or after dinner. It's also set back off the hallway and around a corner on the 4th floor and didn't feel safe or secure. The dryer also didn't seem to work very well. I would avoid doing laundry here if you can. Overall, it's a really convenient, clean and well managed hotel. As long as you can stand sleeping a very hard bed, you'll enjoy your stay here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Disney s Beach Club Villas; City: Orlando Florida; Review: We've stayed at the Beach Club Villas 4 times in as many years, always in a one bedroom villa, with our last visit being an 8 day stay in August 2014. We absolutely love the theme of the resort as well as the amenities and the location to Epcot, our favorite park. The incredible pool, Stormalong Bay, is the largest and IMO the most beautiful of all the on-site resorts. The "average" rating is based upon the fact that Disney management obviously isn't concerned about the condition of the rooms at BC Villas . It doesn't appear that there've been any updates to the villa rooms in years. Worn and dated carpets and furniture, some broken/rusty hardware and appliances, less than stellar housekeeping and subtle mold in the showers and washing machines. A section of damaged hallway carpeting on the 1st floor of the Villas was removed and replaced with some ugly, temporary (according to the concierge)carpeting last year (summer 2013) but was still in place this year, frayed and dirty. The grand lobby, exterior and grounds of both the Beach Club Resort and the Villas are always well maintained and beautifully kept. Not sure why so little attention is shown to the villa rooms? The resort is always filled to capacity which leads me to believe there is no financial incentive for Disney to put out the $$$ for desperately needed interior upgrades and repairs. It's quite shameful really, considering the $600 and up room rates and the costs (mortgages, actually) paid by DVC members to stay there. Disney is in business to make money, I get that, but we pay a premium to stay here and in return expect the Villas to live up to the "deluxe villa resort" status they advertise. This trip was our 7th to WDW in the last 9 years, having stayed at Wilderness Lodge Villas and Boardwalk Villas as well. We're loyal Disney fans and we've obviously fallen in love with and chosen to spend our hard-earned money at BCV year after year. Our family decided in advance of this trip to attend a DVC open house with the intent of finally becoming Disney Vacation Club members. Upon our arrival this year, however, we sadly chose not to take plunge. We're just not convinced that it'd be worth the cost and commitment of membership considering that Disney/BCV management does not seem interested in keeping BCV rooms up to Disney standards. That being said, you should definitely consider staying at the BC Villas if you like the close proximity to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. As mentioned, the pool in and of itself makes for a great time...our kids were perfectly content to spend the entire day in it! Just know going in that your expensive villa unit, although comfortable and convenient, is probably going to leave even the most mildly picky traveler wondering why it's so outdated and in declining condition.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Great National South Court Hotel; City: Limerick County Limerick; Review: Stayed for one night recently and cannot say that I'd recommend it. Located in a residential/commercial area outside of town. A budget hotel that seems to cater to tour groups as motor coaches were coming and going all night. We were given a room on an upper floor above the front entrance of the hotel. The room had a faint, strange chemical smell (air freshener?) so we cracked the window open and unpacked for the night. We headed downstairs to the "steakhouse" pub for dinner and a pint. The pub was almost empty but it still took the bartender several minutes to even acknowledge our presence as there was a rugby match on tv which seemed to be more important. We finally moved to a table and a waiter came by to take our order. Food came out pretty quickly and wasn't bad but that was the last we saw of our waiter for quite a long while. He was busy watching the rugby match behind the bar with the bartender. We actually had to leave our table and stand at the bar to get a refill on our drinks. Had to do the same when it was time to get the check...now the bartender, waiter and another gentleman in a shirt and tie (manager, maybe?) were all standing in front of the tv watching...wait for it...the rugby match. They obviously take their rugby very seriously there :-) Upon returning to our room, we immediately noticed the smell of smoke and diesel fumes. The outdoor smoking area was just below our room and the tour buses would pull up and run their engines while they loaded and unloaded passengers and luggage. Despite the smells and sounds, we decided to simply shut the window and try to get to sleep as we needed to check out early the next morning for our flight from Shannon Airport. After turning off the television and settling in to bed, we were awakened by the sound of loud snoring coming from the room next to us! It sounded like he was in our room! It must've been loud enough to wake him as well because we could also hear him getting up to use the toilet...and I mean we could hear EVERYTHING...Needless to say, we didn't get much sleep that evening. I can't say that I'd recommend staying there unless you're a heavy-sleeping, chain-smoking tour group client who loves rugby.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Aspect Hotel Kilkenny; City: Kilkenny County Kilkenny; Review: We stayed for one night recently and found the property to be perfectly adequate. It's located in a quiet retail/residential area just outside of Kilkenny city center, which was an easy drive. Our rate included free parking and wifi. The small bar in the lobby offered fairly priced drinks and pub food which was actually very good. Our room was clean and roomy enough for the night. The bathroom was tiny and a bit grimy in the corners but not terribly so. We had no issues with noise and were able to get a decent night of sleep. If you're looking for a budget hotel in a quiet and safe area, close to Kilkenny's attractions, this hotel would be a good choice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: instecho Dog Training Collar, 100% Rainproof Rechargeable Electronic Remote Dog Shock Collar 330 Yards Beep/Vibrating/Shock Electric E-Collar; Brand: instecho; Review: It's met, sll of my "EXPECTATIONS"!! The poop bags location and convenience, I can even add a 2nd bags, the Training Treats pouch, and pink it's awesome. The Zipper flat part, I temporarily slide my phone, the mesh pocket awesome to have the use fir my Service Dog, Cooling Collar in. Even a small toy or too. What I find "Fabulous"! Is the waist straps and shoulders!! Since, I'm disabled and with my German Shepherd - Alaskan Malamute Service Dog, I don't always wear clothing that is situated for so, many items that, I have already have to carry. It's all, that I was looking for!!! I'll be interested in more "American Made" items! !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jump Dog Calming Aid Anxiety Relief for Dogs Advanced Time Released De Stress Calm Treats Reduces Aggression Separation Anxiety Fireworks; Brand: Jump; Review: Still, barking! Even though my dog's see and know that I am in the bathroom, walked outside! ! Still, with the barking. Not calmed. Going to wait for a few more days. Then. ......9/6/16! :--( it doesn't work. The, Barking continues! Update:12/16/16. It "Never" worked! Dissatisfied with said product.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Paw Lifestyles Dog Poop Bag Holder Leash Attachment - Fits Any Dog Leash; Brand: Paw Lifestyles; Review: ITs met my expectations. Conveniently located onto the leashes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Industrial Puppy Service Dog Harness With Detachable Backpacks & Patches, and Handle; Brand: Industrial Puppy; Review: Wasn't smaller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Unho Dog Body Harness Padded Extra Big Large Medium Small Heavy Duty vary from All kinds of size; Brand: unho; Review: Would have been nice, had it actually fitted; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Retractable Dog; Brand: BUYBAR; Review: Was great. Till the spring lossen up and doesn't work.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Central Station (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secretary (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 21 Grams (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Story of the Weeping Camel (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bagdad Cafe (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Beautiful Laundrette (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rivers and Tides (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Pretty Things (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nicholas Nickleby (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hunger (1983); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: City of God (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Birth (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Being Julia (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dear Frankie (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amelie (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Million Dollar Baby (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hours (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bad Santa (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pather Panchali (1955); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wallace & Gromit in Three Amazing Adventures (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: El Bola (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aparajito (1957); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Talk to Her (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The World of Apu (1959); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secondhand Lions (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kissing Jessica Stein (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Radio (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Born Into Brothels (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heavenly Creatures (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Virgin Suicides (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sea Inside (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hitch (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko: Director's Cut (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Wuksachi Lodge; City: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park California; Review: Stayed there for one night with the family in a Kings superior room. Friendly and helpful staff.Clean and comfortable room based on the location. People tend to forget that they are in the midst of the wilderness. The front lobby and the rooms in separate buildings are some ways apart.No elevator for upstairs rooms, so expect some muscle action. Non-complimentary breakfast was served in the gate house and very good. Is recommended if you want to stay in the park, and be early at the attractions.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn San Francisco Airport Oyster Point Waterfront; City: South San Francisco Californ; Review: Stayed there 4 nights on our visit to SF.We had an oceanview/bayview room. Clean and comfortable. Very friendly and competent personnel-throughout.The ocean/bay view rooms even though more expensive keep you away from the trains that run in front of the hotel. So if you desire some quietness and don`t mind the extra money, take the bayview rooms.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sonesta ES Suites Chicago Lombard; City: Lombard DuPage County Illinois; Review: Stayed there for a total of 10 nights in a 2 bedroom bi level suite with the family. Excellent personnel.Very reasonably priced. Clean. Good Service. Breakfast ok. We had a quiet backlot location. Good proximity to Chicago, ORD, Brookfield Zoo etc. Jewel Supermarket, Walgreens just up the steet. Target around the corner. Located in a nice and basically more quieter area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Los Angeles Burbank Downtown; City: Burbank California; Review: Great Hotel.Very friendly and capable staff.Updated and clean rooms.Had the corner suite,very spacious and relatively quiet.Excellent breakfast selection.Garage parking.Close proximity to Studios,Hollywood and Zoo.Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Los Angeles Westlake Village; City: Westlake Village California; Review: Great Hotel.Clean and updated rooms.Nice and capable staff.Close to all the sights in the north of LA(Zoo,Universal,Reagan library etc) Off highway location,but still quiet.Acceptable complimentary breakfast.Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn by Marriott Fairfax Merrifield; City: Falls Church Virginia; Review: Great Hotel.Clean and updated rooms.Garage parking.Acceptable complimentary breakfast.Friendly and capable staff.Quiet location but easy highway access to DC.40min drive to the museum mall.Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Our Pets Play-N-Squeak Backyard Cat Toy; Brand: Our Pets; Review: I have a Pom and he just loves these squeaky little toys that squeaks when he touches it. It must the reaction he gets from the toy like its whimpering because of him lol. I love my dog and I'm very happy that this toy exists for him.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OurPets Play-N-Squeak at Night Twinkle Mouse Light-Up Cat Toy; Brand: Our Pets; Review: I have a Pom and he just loves these squeaky little toys that squeaks when he touches it. It must the reaction he gets from the toy like its whimpering because of him lol. I love my dog and I'm very happy that this toy exists for him.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OurPets Play-N-Squeak Real Birds Touch Down Interactive Cat Toy; Brand: Our Pets; Review: I have a Pom and he just loves these squeaky little toys that squeaks when he touches it. It must the reaction he gets from the toy like its whimpering because of him lol. I love my dog and I'm very happy that this toy exists for him.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OurPets Play-N-Squeak Wee Catch of the Day Kitten Toy; Brand: Our Pets; Review: I have a Pom and he just loves these squeaky little toys that squeaks when he touches it. It must the reaction he gets from the toy like its whimpering because of him lol. I love my dog and I'm very happy that this toy exists for him.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NutraLife Pet SAMe 100mg (30 tablets); Brand: NutralifePet; Review: My dog has been using this for 2 weeks now. I can tell that his spirits are boosted up. I look forward to his bloodwork coming back improved for using this medicine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: R2P Group Zany Bunch Zany Ball - Wiggling, Jiggling, Electronic Dog Toy; Brand: R2P Group; Review: My dog loves this toy. Too bad it doesn't fit in his mouth, he can only smack it around. I wish there was a smaller version of this dog toy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: barkOutfitters Service Dog Vest Cool Red Mesh Harness; Brand: barkOutfitters; Review: Such a good deal for the vest to come with the 50 informative cards to hand to people. Thanks for selling.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vitality SAMeLQ 100 Chewable Tablets 30 ct; Brand: Vitality; Review: I especially like this SAMe for the additional ingredients and vitamins it contains.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Greenies Pill Pocket Soft Dog Treats - Chicken; Brand: Greenies; Review: This is the only encapsulation that will work for my dog's medication treatments. I recommend it to anyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NutralifePet SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine) 100 Mg - Liver Detox & Joint Support - Double Pack (60 Tablets); Brand: Nutralife; Review: I especially like the convenience of the blister pack. And the pills pop out easily.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Delta Faucet 58467-SS 4-Spray In2Ition 2-in-1 Hand Held Shower Head, Stainless; Brand: DELTA FAUCET; Review: I haven't enjoyed taking a shower in a very long time, this shower head is amazing, I did have to remove the water restrictors though; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Delta Faucet Addison Single-Handle Touch Kitchen Sink Faucet with Pull Down Sprayer, Soap; Brand: DELTA FAUCET; Review: Wow, this is absolutely the prettiest sink ever, no exaggeration. Works great too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brondell CSL-40 CleanSpa Luxury Hand Held Bidet Shattaf Sprayer, Silver; Brand: Brondell; Review: This is an awesome product, unfortunately I had to return it because it kept leaking from the head of the sprayer. It was a very light leak but I am sure it would accumulate to alot of water.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: LightInTheBox Acrylic Chandelier with 2 lights (Chrome Finish); Brand: LightInTheBox; Review: Very cheap materials, the circular design is huge; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Maxxima MLN-50 5 LED Night Light With Sensor,Maxxima,MLN-50" />; Brand: Maxxima; Review: Awesome. Kind of bright though; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wayne RPP50 Sewage Pump; Brand: Wayne; Review: Amazing, replaced my ejector pump after it went bad. This one is surpycheap but is also great quality. I brought one a pump from Home Depot for $350, but that one was returned almost immediately after I found this. Works awesome. Just remember to visit you local hardware store for plumbing supplies such as the pipe glue and any pipe "adapters" for differences in pipe width. I am an accountant and was able to figure out the install in 10 minutes, very very straightforward.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: IRIS Neat 'n Dry Premium Pet Training Pads, Regular, 17.5" x 23.5"; Brand: IRIS USA, Inc.; Review: These pads work very well for my pad trained dog. Have never had any leak through.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nylabone Just For Puppies Key Ring Bone Puppy Dog Teething Chew Toy; Brand: Nylabone; Review: Sturdy and a great chew toy. Works fine for small dog.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nylabone Puppy Starter Packs Puppy Chew Toys; Brand: Nylabone; Review: Sturdy and dog loves it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: IRIS Pet Training Pad Floor Tray; Brand: IRIS USA, Inc.; Review: Love how it keeps urine contained and clean up is so easy. Had a smaller one and got this one for a second dog.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scaredy Cut Tiny Trim by Small Pet Grooming Safety Scissor - 4.5" Ear, Nose, Face, Paw - for Cats,; Brand: Scaredy Cut; Review: Nice little final trim scissors and good for around the face and eyes. Much safer with the ball tips.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Downtown Pet Supply Quick Fit Dog Muzzle with Adjustable Straps, black nylon, Size 0, Size 1, Size 2, Size; Brand: Downtown Pet Supply; Review: The stitching and twist in nylon fabric rubbed the bridge of my small dog's nose. He seemed very uncomfortable. I returned these--won't be getting them ever again.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics Single Door & Double Door Folding Metal Dog Crate; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Sturdy and my dog feels comfortable sleeping in it with door open. NEVER use crate as punishment and he seems to feel safe in it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics Padded Pet Bolster Bed; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Nice cushioned pad and it washes very well. It fits well in crate.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EXPAWLORER Soft Mesh Polka Dots Dog Harness with Matching Leash; Brand: EXPAWLORER; Review: These harnesses are a must for small dogs. It avoids getting too close to their neck. It is sturdy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wegreeco Washable Male Dog Diapers (Pack of 3) - Washable Male Dog Belly Wrap; Brand: Wegreeco; Review: These work great! It's much easier to get a dog sitter (at their place) with these belly bands. I put a feminine pad inside and then discard if my dog urinates. Great construction.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wegreeco Washable Male Dog Diapers (Pack of 3) - Washable Male Dog Belly Wrap; Brand: Wegreeco; Review: These work great! It's much easier to get a dog sitter (at their place) with these belly bands. I put a feminine pad inside and then discard if my dog urinates. Great construction.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics Padded Pet Bolster Bed; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Nice cushioned pad and it washes very well. It fits well in crate.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dog Grooming Scissors, Gimars Heavy Duty Titanium Coated Stainless Steel Pet Grooming Trimmer Kit - Perfect Thinning,; Brand: Gimars; Review: Very nice set. Good value. Scissors are extremely sharp--adults only. I particularly like the curved scissors for shaping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WOpet Pet Car Seat Carrier Airline Approved For Dog Cat Puppy Small Pets Travel Cage L Size Weight up to; Brand: WOpet; Review: Second doggy car seat like this for second dog. Because my dog is small, I found that placing one or two knots in the harness strap, it works great. Nice quality--good value.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nylabone Puppy Chew X Bone Beef Chew Toy, X-Small; Brand: Nylabone; Review: Sturdy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: IRIS Neat 'n Dry Premium Pet Training Pads, Small, 17.5" x 17.5; Brand: IRIS USA, Inc.; Review: Like these pads especially with IRIS pad holder. I have had zero leaks with these. The are snapped in the holder so no sliding around.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ZippyPaws Crinkles Squeaky Plush Dog Toy, Small; Brand: ZippyPaws; Review: Well made and my dog is intrigued by the crinkle in the wings. Colorful and a fun fetch toy for a little dog.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blueberry Pet Gift Toys for Puppies & Dogs, 6", Designer Squeak Plush Small Dog Toy; Brand: Blueberry Pet; Review: Cute and sturdy. Dog loves it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition X-Small Adult Dry Dog Food; Brand: Royal Canin; Review: My little Maltese does well with this size dry food. No negative side effects noted.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wegreeco Washable Female Dog Diapers (Pack of 3); Brand: Wegreeco; Review: Ordered these in anticipation of a female Maltese. Didnt end up getting her but have same brand belly bands for our male and we love them. Comfortable for him and no leaking.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Rocky Horror Picture Show VHS; Brand: Tim Curry; Review: Rocky Horror is still as fun and fresh today as it was30 years ago I highly recommend it. The new hd version has improved sound quality over past versions which makes it better!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Midnight Clear; Brand: Jerry B. Jenkins; Review: not the typical christmas movie-- very dark.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: How to Train Your Dragon; Brand: Jay Baruchel; Review: a very fun romp of fantasy...great movie fun for youn and old; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Train Your Dragon 2; Brand: Jay Baruchel; Review: cute, fun ,sequel-well worth the watch...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel; Brand: Maggie Smith; Review: What a fun watch. Great acting, great story cant wait to see the sequel; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orphan Black: Season 2; Brand: Tatiana Maslany; Review: A great interesting series...fun quirky wierd; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Brady Bunch Movie VHS; Brand: Shelley Long; Review: just giggles; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Treme: Season 1; Brand: Steve Zahn; Review: bleck,! no plot, poorly recorded-- wasn't worth the time....; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: WHERE THE BEARS ARE 4; Brand: ; Review: A wonderful fun romp as always...I enjoy the characters, the scenes the mystery and most of the the warmth and reality of the bear and otter and .... comunity; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Level Mount EZLCDP-02 Large LCD/Plasma Tilt Mount for 36" to 60" Displays (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Easymounts; Review: I've bought this mount from Amazon along with my Panasonic 42" Plasma Television which I just received a couple of days ago. Mount is of sturdy construction, well built, and all the mounting hardware came in separate labeled bags along with easy to follow instructions. Installation is straightforward, and with a bit of common sense, this should be a doable project for anyone who owns a drill and a (large) Phillips screwdriver. I've posted pictures so you can see how easily this is done (in the customer images section above).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Panasonic TH-42PX600U 42" Plasma HDTV Television; Brand: Panasonic; Review: This plasma set is one of the best rated in the 42" category by most of the plasma sites. Love the twin HDMI connectors, which I use to connect an HDMI Panasonic DVD player, only one cable is required per connection for video/audio. Cable is inpervious to EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) and Crosstalk, since it's digital and all it does is transfer ones and zeroes :) (Note, for this reason, there is NO need to spend $60 and up for the high end cables like Monster. I've bought the $4 cables from Amazon and they work great). Unit also has a cable card slot (which I don't use), PC port, and SD card slot for watching photos on your TV. The sound is very good, unit is rated at 31 W Output Power, and has four speakers (including two woofers), very good channel separation, and sound that is very nice and crisp, which should be more than enough for anyone except an audiophile in my opinion. Colors are vivid, and the images are ultra sharp. I've only had mine for about 10 days, so I have not calibrated mine yet until it's broken in. Also, I don't have HD service through my cable provider, since Time Warner is transitioning to Comcast in our area, and they're have been out of HD converters & DVRs for weeks now - Thanks Warner Cable...) The remote control is intuitive and well laid out, with big buttons, and a size that feels just right for even smaller hands. Keys are not backlit, but that's about the only fault I could find with it. A word of advice for folks that have bought plasmas and prospective buyers, is to take the set out of "torch" mode (very high picture setting, intended for showing the TV in brightly lit store showrooms, which increases wear on the screen phosphors) and lower this setting as when your unit is new to minimize burn in (see Panny's instructions below). After the first 100 hours, the unit should give you around ~60,000 hours of trouble free viewing, which translates to around 20 years of 8 hours/day viewing. Keep in mind that this phenomenon is not unique to plasma technology, CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), can and do suffer from burn-in if not used properly). Here's what you need to do per Panasonic instructions (should be applied to all brands, not just Panasonic). When your plasma TV is initially installed, the first 100 hours of use is known as the "break-in period." During this time, to minimize any risk of image retention, you should: 1. Make sure the plasma TV is in a viewing mode (aspect ratio) that completely fills the screen. The panel is shipped in this condition, in what is called the "Just" mode. 2. Turn down the Picture setting (in the Picture menu) to +0. 3. Briefly engage the 4:3 mode and confirm the side bars are set to "Mid", or "Bright". This can be adjusted in the Set Up menu. 4. Always return the display mode that fills the screen; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jabra SPORT Bluetooth Stereo Headset - Black/Yellow (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Jabra; Review: Just got these a couple of days ago. Fit - Fit is fine on the ears, with the caveat that the yellow flat rubber cable holding them together tugs on your neck when you sweat, so moving your head dislodges the earpiece right out of your ear. Not good. Bluetooth - Works great indoors. When going outdoors, the only way to get them to work is by wearing an armband for your phone/ipod. I have an iPhone 3GS, and the first couple of runs I had to hold it in my hand or else they would not work. Once I got the armband all is good, but I don't like armbands that much. It restricts movement at the gym and makes you look like a tool. Also, while I had to pair them once initially, now that I just finished charging them the second time, it wants to pair every time I turn them on. It's 2011 people, not 2001 anymore... Battery - Nowhere near the advertised four hours. I used it for two three-mile runs and a four-miler today, and it died on me half way through. So basically two hours is the realistic limit (used them for a 30 min workout before my run this morning). So, as much as I wanted to like these, they will be going back. Hopefully there will be a redesign soon and beef up the BT signal to make them a five-star product.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fintie iPad Air 2 Case -; Brand: Fintie; Review: Cover is very good. Light and slim, and material seems like will be very durable and stand up to everyday use for at least a couple of years or more. The magnetic cover is a semi-soft vinyl leather pattern on the outside and the inside a soft synthetic suede like material that will keep the screen protected. The bottom hard plastic snaps onto the iPad and all ports and cutouts match perfectly to account for the Air 2 new microphones and deleted mute button. Also, the cover snaps on and off very easily and with a satisfying click. More importantly, the company is outstanding and stands behind their products. I ordered two of these for iPad Air 2s. One of the two was defective (magnet too weak, would not wake and sleep screen). I started the return process and Fintie contacted me and informed me that they would test a replacement to ensure I got a working cover next time around. Sure enough, just got the new cover in the mail and it worked as advertised. They also maintained email contact the whole time updating me on the status on my replacement. In this day and age it is very refreshing to see great customer service like this. Will definitely buy other products from them again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Open-Mesh MR1750 Dual Band 802.11ac Access Point; Brand: Open-Mesh; Review: Decided to give this a shot since it is about half the price of a Meraki MR18 or Aerohive 130, which I'm currently evaluating for a multiple site WiFi rollout. Nice interface and very easy to set up, but unfortunately, our MR1750 kept losing Internet connectivity several time a day and could only be brought back by power cycling, so I will have to give it one star, as this is not ideal in any environment, no matter how easy it is to set up and manage.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: NETGEAR 24-Port Fully Managed Switch M4300-28G-PoE+, 24x1G PoE+, 2x10GBASE-T, 2xSFP+, Stackable, 1,000W PSU, ProSAFE Lifetime Protection (GSM4328PB); Brand: NETGEAR; Review: Great switches. Been using them since August with an all-flash array with zero issues. What a great value. Will def purchase again if needed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: ICOtec GC300 - Call of the Wild Electronic Game Call; Brand: Icotec; Review: Very happy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Green Blob Outdoors Premium Military, Mil Spec Flip Up, Folding, Front and Rear Iron Sights Tactical Set for Picatinny; Brand: Green Blob Outdoors; Review: Very happy !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife with Sandvik Stainless Steel Blade, 4.1-Inch; Brand: Morakniv; Review: Best knife you can buy for the price !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Trim and Prep System with Hardened High Speed Steel Chamfer Debur Tool and Primer Pocket; Brand: Frankford Arsenal; Review: Very nice; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuff, Classic Green (R-01526); Brand: Howard Leight; Review: Very poor fit, won't work when using a rifle; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass; Brand: by
Nintendo; Review: The Zelda games have always been one of my familiy's favorites so we had to get this one as well. Everybody has their favorite Zelda game and I think this one is mine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Build-A-Bear Workshop - Nintendo DS; Brand: by
American Game Factory; Review: This was on my middle son's Christmas wish list and I was glad to find it here. We played together and I think I ended up playing it more on Christmas than he did because I kept telling him to wait a minute. He loves it and so do all the other kids that play it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks; Brand: by
Nintendo; Review: My family has ALWAYS loved Zelda games so this one was no exception. Everyone has taken turns playing it and it lots of fun, just like the rest.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 - Sony PSP; Brand: by
THQ; Review: Purchased this as a replacement for the same game that my son broke. He paid for it but would not have been able to afford it from anywhere else. He loved the game and was so upset when the other one got broke. Glad we could find a replacement at a decent price.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 - Sony PSP; Brand: by
THQ; Review: I purchased this game as a Christmas present for my 10-year-old son. We also have the same game for the Wii but he is partial to his PSP game. He was so excited to get it on Christmas morning. He said it was the best present he got. Our family are huge wrestling fans!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Video_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Magicfly Power 6 AC Outlet Surge Protector Wall Mount Socket with 2 USB Wall Charger 2.1A; Brand: Magicfly; Review: Works great! The usb Charging is a plus.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr Beams MB360 Wireless LED Spotlight with Motion Sensor and Photocell, Dark Brown; Brand: Mr Beams; Review: Works great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr Beams MB726 Stick Anywhere Battery-Powered Wireless Motion Sensor LED Night Light, White, Set of 6; Brand: Mr. Beams; Review: Love it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: IRWIN VISE-GRIP 2078300 Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper, 8"; Brand: Irwin Tools; Review: Excellent product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bosch DSB1019 1-3/8-Inch by 6-Inch DareDevil Standard Spade Bit; Brand: Bosch; Review: Excellent product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with Wikipedia articles as follows:
Title: London Passenger Transport Board; Description: organisation responsible for local public transport in London, England
Title: Template:Metropolitan Extension RDT; Description: Wikimedia template
Title: Metropolitan; Description: Wikimedia disambiguation page
Title: Template:Page needed; Description: Wikimedia template
Title: Metropolitan Railway; Description: underground railway in London
Title: Template:District line simple RDT; Description: Wikimedia template | wikirec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Fallen; Author: Visit Amazon's Lauren Kate Page; Review: Overall, I think this book was really good, a very interesting story. The problem I had with it is that its kind of hard to get into (but that's my own personal opinion, it all depends if it grabs YOUR attention). Another issue I had with it is that by reading the description or summary of the book the reader pretty much knows what to expect however most of the time the author will usually give quite a few surprises that you weren't expecting. While this book offers many surprises it does not offer any answers to the questions you already have. Throughout the whole book, I sat at the edge of my seat waiting for something really good and revealing to happen, but it does not. The author revealed very little about the history of the characters which is so vital to the story, she would throw you a piece of meat but wouldn't let you eat it. Basically, there are more mysteries to this book at the end than answers. There are a few unexpected surprises which I really liked having. But I feel as though the author left out a lot of the story on purpose because she intended to write a sequel which is fine but most books give the reader a little more help. So when I finished the book I had more questions than answers. I'm an avid reader, its such a joy to sit down with a good book so when I read a book that leaves me with very little satisfaction or very few answers, its kind of disappointing. I will probably eventually read the sequel Torment just to get the answers I need and want. So to just wrap this up, the reader knows what to expect, the reader gets what they expect, the reader gets a few surprises, but the reader doesn't get many answers. The most obvious question was simply...why? But we don't get even a real hint to that answer...and if we readers did then I totally missed it. Fallen by Lauren Kate is a great story and worth reading just be aware that the sequel will have to be read if you want some answers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wretched of Muirwood; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Wheeler Page; Review: This book and the rest of the series, both the Blight of Muirwood and the Scourge of Muirwood, immediately captured my attention. I was impressed with the complexity of the characters, they seemed genuine and were very mysterious. This story is by far one of the best within its price, but more than that it was just simply good. It satiated my hungry for fantasy and adventure. Who could have thought that a book at this price could be so good that I would rank it among those books of a greater price and popularity. If you like stories that leave you wanting more, that offer mystery, romance, and adventure these books are the answer. Please give them a chance, you'll be surprised at how much fun they are! :) Just a tidbit, it reminds me of the Light of Eidon series by Karen Hancock as it deals with two opposing religions...but don't let it scare you away!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mortal Instruments 5: City of Lost Souls; Author: Visit Amazon's Cassandra Clare Page; Review: This book ended up being better than the last one, City of Fallen Angels, (for me) however it still lacked a little of the luster that the first three had for me. There was very little action or rather fighting and very few demons. Although, I really liked the direction Cassandra Clare is taking with this series. The plot was a little slow and very little actually happened during the length of the book except a lot of information about Shadowhunters and Downworlders. Sebastian/ Johnathan's plot was interesting enough, but it still seemed like a direction Valentine would take then again he is Valentine's creation. I felt like Sebastian was sneering through it all (which I thought was perfect for him.) I think that the reason he seemed so pleasant was because one of his main objectives was to bring Clary to the "dark side" and it looks like what he says to her affects the way she thinks of herself, but she is too smart for him. The fact that he wants to take it a little "too far" could have something to do with her rejection of him and his plan (Way to go Clary! Although it would have been interesting if she had gone in that direction. (not with the gross stuff, but towards his plan)). Jace acted like a robot, doing only what Sebastian wanted, this was very frustrating, and I know that he can't help being this way, but I missed the old Jace, the one with a back bone, who wouldn't agree with Sebastian! However, I really enjoyed his commentary. The only thing that had any resemblance of him was his connection and love for Clary, super glad of that. There was that one brief moment where he was himself and was self-sacrificing (yay!). However, here is a thought if he finally figured out love made him stronger than why for these last two books has he been getting weaker? I hope that in the last book, we'll see a vengeful and butt-kicking Jace (crossing fingers!). Other than those few issues, I still really liked the book, the characters grew for me especially Magnus, Alec, and Isabelle. But more than that I love how they have such strong human emotions, Clary's mom, Jocelyn, is definitely a mom and is still trying to control Clary. Also, the comedic moments were great! There were also a few mysteries introduced that I cannot wait to find out the answers too. I really did enjoy this book, it was very hard for me to put it down. Definitely worth reading!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Witch's Daughter; Author: Visit Amazon's Paula Brackston Page; Review: It took me a little while to get into the story after the initial beginning which hooked me right in, but after I stumbled through a few chapters I was mesmerized! (No pun intended) This story makes you feel, you immediately feel something like anguish for the main character, Bess. I felt her losses and was deeply moved by the story and horrified for her to witness such terrible things and disgusted at other moments. (Because let's face it, horrible things have happened in humanity's history.) And yet, to move through history with her was enchanting. This was beautifully written and I was very much impressed with how the writer pulls you in and paints the story with her words. It was done in an almost believable way, I was waiting for something great to happen, something good for the character, and yet when it was given I was amazed how little I got to experience it. And yet, I was not disappointed in the slightest! I recommend this as not only a book in the supernatural genre, but also of a captivating story of loss, love, and strength. The mystery and clues to Gideon were fun either to look back on when revealed and/ or to discover them before Bess. The main character was strong in the most unusual ways, my favorite was her humility and selflessness, to hold such power and yet be so humble and selfless with it is a wonderful thing. I loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seraphina; Author: Visit Amazon's Rachel Hartman Page; Review: I loved this book, the writing style was not "young" which is the way I like my books. (Meaning, even though characters may be young, I do not want to feel like I am reading a book for children or young teens, otherwise I am irritated. I know it's strange especially when it's ABOUT young people). I loved how the author really made the main character have real emotions, but a logical brain, and of two worlds. The dragons were perfectly detached AND "human", a perspective that was surprising because I have never read about dragons like these. I am a huge fan of Christopher Paolini and the Inheritance Cycle (still wishing the movie had been better) so I was naturally drawn to another dragon type book and it was such a delightful read, not like the Inheritance Cycle, but it had it's own magical pull. Just a reminder though, these are NOT your typical dragons.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clockwork Princess; Author: Visit Amazon's Cassandra Clare Page; Review: Filled with love, loss, adventure and beauty! I am so happy with this book, it fullfilled all my hopes and the characters were so amazingly brave and selfless in a great way that made you think it was real. Beautiful and stunning!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seven Kinds of Hell (Fangborn); Author: Visit Amazon's Dana Cameron Page; Review: This book has great potential however it flew through too many things too quickly. One minute one thing is happening then the next the characters are in a whole new place. It often left me confused and irritated. I did like the story and characters. Although there were too many bad guys...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Throne of Glass; Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah J Maas Page; Review: This book was far more interesting than I imagined it to be. Each character was interesting and whats more most had their secrets. Secrets that have been half revealed and it didn't frustrate me not to know them. Overall, this was a great book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown; Author: Visit Amazon's Holly Black Page; Review: This was nothing I expected and everything about it I loved!!! The heroine wasn't your typical good girl that you tend to see in a lot of books today and I really liked that...she seemed more real that way. If this is a series...I will gladly read more, but if that is that then I am happily satisfied! Worth reading if only because its different.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ender's Game (The Ender Quintet); Author: Visit Amazon's Orson Scott Card Page; Review: I loved this book, it as so imaginative and not the least bit silly. It was real even though it wasn't. Nothing was sugar coated. The characters were placed through the ringer, but persevered. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Takedown Twenty (Stephanie Plum); Author: Visit Amazon's Janet Evanovich Page; Review: While the book was rather hilarious, certain plots were blah. The antagonist started off interesting enough, but the character's motives were superficial. While I don't read the Plum novels for the antagonists, I still except them to be a little more interesting. Now what's really disappointing is this: Stephanie and Ranger's relationship. It never goes anywhere, although time after time there is that attraction, Ranger's continuous devotion and care to Stephanie is quite often overlooked, he is always saving her, giving her replacement cars. He never complains. He genuinely cares for her well-being. Don't get me wrong I like Morelli, alot. And while he cares for Stephanie, I feel that he mostly comes around for one thing. Here's another thing, Stephanie's relationship with the two men never go to deep. There are never really any true heart to hearts. That is a bit frustrating. I gave this a 4/5...after this review you are probably wondering why and this is it. I enjoyed the book, it made me laugh a lot, the moments with Lula are to die for, she always lightens the mood, and as always those moments with Ranger just make me grin and hold my breath, he is by far my favorite.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Play Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's Anne Frasier Page; Review: I enjoyed the characters and their stories. The mystery was good and even disturbing. It was definitely worth reading...though I am left wondering about the relationship of a couple of the characters.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bloodlines: The Ruby Circle (book 6); Author: Visit Amazon's Richelle Mead Page; Review: This really was a great end. It was fast paced, not much down time, and the little that appeared was highly entertaining. Sydney was her usual smart, intelligent self, whose love for the people surrounding her causes her to do extraordinary things! Adrian was charming, caring, and witty as usual and his knowledge and strength with spirit was astounding! Loved having more Rose and Dimitri, really have been missing having them more involved in the series. Overall, this was a fabulous conclusion! Read it within 5-6 hours...couldn't stop!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Collectors' Society (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Lyons Page; Review: This was such a great story. For me, it was book lover's dream. A story about characters coming to life and what they are really like. I loved it!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hidden Library (The Collectors' Society) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Lyons Page; Review: Great second novel in a spectacular series. Fast paced, full of history, and twists and turns. Characters are full of life and emotions are so real and vivid. This story is truly captivating!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mistaking Her Character: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Maria Grace Page; Review: ***Spolier Alert*** Let's focus on the good points first. Elizabeth was a well rounded character, slightly different from her original character, some aspects of her were focused on more than they usually are because let's be honest Elizabeth is a really good sister, she loves her sisters and other people. Mr. Darcy is really interesting in this as well, I liked this version of him very much. (We even get to read from his point of view, yay!) While I enjoyed reading a story of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy in new setting, I was mostly confused throughout the book. Mr. Bennett, for one, was confusing in his nature which is nothing like his normal character who is somewhat careless with his daughters and their behavior, his regard for Elizabeth, he uses her as practically a servant (I highly doubt a Gentleman father in these times would have done that), is constantly frowning at her, and then in the end cares nothing for her future. His total lack of regard for her is a complete departure from his original character. Two, what made Elizabeth think that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were feeding lies and rumors to her father about her? There is no evidence to support this, in fact you very little about the two women, they hardly speak if any, in the book! Three, who is Elizabeth and Jane's mother??? Half of the book, it is Mrs. Bennett (who is normally the mother) and the other half spouts how different their real mother was and how Lydia, Kitty, and possibly Mary are their step-sisters with Mrs. Bennett being Elizaeth and Jane's step-mother. Note: Mrs. Bennett was mentioned to have given birth five times. Then later, Elizabeth mentions treating her like she would her real mother (there are only five children in the Bennett home, no mention of death). Some parts make Mrs. Bennett out to be her normal over-dramatic self and others Elizabeth shows real esteem for her which is fine in some aspects because it shows how dynamic a character can be, but this just didn't feel natural to me. Fourth point, Jane, who is constantly talked about as serene and sweet and perfect, yet has some major flaws in her character eventually which is totally ill-fitting on her, I mean jealousy plus Jane??? She is usually so humbled and embarrassed by compliments paid to her, surely she would not mind Elizabeth getting some attention on her wedding day. Again, Elizabeth was fairly rounded as character and I liked this version of Mr. Darcy. It's sounds like I hated this book, I didn't, not really. It was entertaining, I enjoyed reading it, I love Pride and Prejudice variations. But, it had some major inconsistencies.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uprooted; Author: Visit Amazon's Naomi Novik Page; Review: Well written, full of horror and fantasy, and plenty of interesting characters. A very enjoyable read, not exactly what I expected, I expected soft edges and a bit overwrought with romance which books of this nature usually tend to be, but this was refreshing in its unusual story progression.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Naturalist; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Mayne Page; Review: This was such a great book! Loved the suspense and all the detail! Theo's viewpoint is interesting and the manner of his discoveries is unique! Can't wait for the next one!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pandemic (Extinction Files); Author: Visit Amazon's A. G. Riddle Page; Review: Heavily detailed, so good it seemed real! Great characters, good back story, and a really good mystery! Can't wait to find out the rest!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Killman Creek (Stillhouse Lake); Author: Visit Amazon's Rachel Caine Page; Review: My stomach was in knots reading this, full of suspense and horror. Loved reading each characters' point of view, made it more interesting, helps understanding these characters we have come to love, and how truly human they are, and of course, you can't help, but feel such an incredible amount of fear and horrow for Gwen and what she and her children have lived with. Absolutely loved this book. It was a great conclusion to an terrifying story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Pearl Izumi Men's Canyon Short; Brand: Pearl iZUMi; Review: I really like the the outer shell of the shorts and they fit well (Medium for a 34 waist) and are very comfortable. They don't pull or bind while riding. What I do find is that the padded compression shorts are on the small side and a little cramped where I don't want it to be. If that wasn't the case I would have rated this product 5 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Izumi Men's Elite Thermal Wool Sock; Brand: Pearl iZUMi; Review: These socks are nice and comfortable, but I didn't notice that they were warmer than the socks I wear all summer.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: SRAM PG950 Bicycle Cassette (9-Speed); Brand: SRAM; Review: Upgraded to 9 speed and love the gear spacing of this cassette much more than the 8 speed cassette i had previously. Very happy with my choice and would recommend it to anyone.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: N-Gear Jump Stop Chain Guide/Watcher; Brand: N-Gear; Review: Bought this when I switched to a 1X9 setup. Other products cost 5 to 10 times more but the Jump Stop works great for much less $.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: UTG Model 4/AR15 4 & 5 Prong A1/A2 Dual Front Sight Tool; Brand: UTG; Review: Great product. Makes adjusting the front sight a breeze.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Smead Lockit Two-Pocket Folder, Letter Size, Dark Blue, 25 per Box (87982); Brand: Smead; Review: These folders are perfect for presentations, resumes, and data collection. It fits in a file drawer perfectly and the paperwork does not fall out or get creased. Recommend highly as the price is reasonable and the amount just right.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quartet Dry-Erase Board, Whiteboard / White Board, Magnetic, 2' x 3', Euro Style Frame (UKTE2436-ECR); Brand: Quartet; Review: This board fits on the back of a bedroom door or kids playroom wall with easy mounting and has no sharp edges to damage door or wall when mounted. Any marker works and with the cleaner it can be used for a lifetime. I recommend it highly and ordered another one for my home office.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Intertape Polymer Group TS2650 Bundle Wrap Stretch Film, 2-Inch x 650-Feet; Brand: Intertape Polymer Group; Review: I am a non stop shipper of books, etc. and always looking for a system to improve the process. This product is great for wrapping up what you have to ship and seals nice and tight with no gaps for any moisture to get in. The handle works well and once you start with a system of wrapping your package it moves right along. The only problem is that this is very much like any other cling wrapping product it folds into itself and you wind up wasting some trying to get it undone. Now this product does it less but unfortunately it does have a problem with bunching so buyer be aware of how to use it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swingline High Heel Stapler, 20 Sheets, Plastic, Black (S7070971); Brand: Swingline; Review: This is a fabulous thing to have sitting on your desk to ramp up the cute and have everyone ask 'where did you get that from' It hold a full strip of staples and works as if it were any other stapler but this one has the huge touch of class.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scotch Advanced Thermal Laminator, Extra Wide 13-Inch Input, 1-Minute Warm-up (TL1302VP); Brand: Scotch; Review: This is the perfect home laminator or small office machine. It came with 20 sleeves and simple, uncomplicated directions and best of all you can store it on its side or hang it from a hook out of the way. It does heat up quickly and a heads up stays that way after use to cool down is imperative. The sleeves slide into the machine easily and the end product was a great sealed product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Canon MG5720 Wireless All-In-One Printer with Scanner and Copier: Mobile and Tablet Printing with Airprintcompatible, Black; Brand: Canon; Review: I had an expectation for size, speed, cartridge capability, and all the bells and whistles that I wanted for a multi function printer. This one hit every one of them and I am really happy with the printer from every function it offers. It does not hold an entire ream of paper but that is well documented so I mention it for someone with a lot to print at one time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mead 2-Inch D-Ring View Binder, Pack of 4, Blue (W465-44-2925PP); Brand: Mead; Review: For a sturdy binder that stands with no assistance on your shelf I highly recommend this addition. I wanted to organize the year and set up for upcoming bill cycles and this 2" binder held more than just three years and did so with sturdy rings for clasping and a nice spine for marking the binder's intention. I have bought many more to organize taxes, health records, etc.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quartet Magnetic Whiteboard, Dry Erase Markers & Magnets Value Pack, Frame Color May Vary (44200); Brand: Quartet; Review: This white board had everything I was looking for to keep my home life organized. It is magnetic, comes with a full set of markers, as well as magnets to get your started and is easy to hang with the self sticking appliques that are included. The upside is there is no shelf at the bottom which means I was able to utilize the space I had and hang in either direction keeping more space free for items I could tape to the spot next to it. Very happy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SyPen Stylus Pen for Touchscreen Devices, Tablets, iPads, iPhones, Multi-Function Capacitive Pen With LED Flashlight, Ballpoint Ink Pen, 3-In-1; Brand: SyPen; Review: Great product with a nice strong light, sturdy construction, and continuous flow to the pen. Will buy again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ExcelMark Premium Self-Inking Stamp Refill Ink - 5cc (Red); Brand: ExcelMark; Review: This was the exact color requested and the size I asked for; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Office_Products |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Sixty Acres and a Bride; Author: Visit Amazon's Regina Jennings Page; Review: I love the book but am not finished yet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Widow of Larkspur Inn (The Gresham Chronicles, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Lawana Blackwell Page; Review: I really enjoyed this one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Child of the Mist (These Highland Hills, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Kathleen Morgan Page; Review: It was true to the time period and I really enjoyed it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amelia's Story (Special Edition Paperback Books 1 & 2): A Childhood Lost; Author: Visit Amazon's D. G. Torrens Page; Review: I found this book to be a little on the depressing side.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: You Are My Sunshine; Author: Visit Amazon's Roberta Kagan Page; Review: I really liked this book but the ending left me hanging.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Map of Heaven; Author: Visit Amazon's Suzanne Elizabeth Anderson Page; Review: Great book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Performance Tool W1131C Ignition Tune-Up Kit, 4-Piece; Brand: Performance Tool; Review: THNXX; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Slime 40001 Motorcycle Tire Inflator; Brand: Slime; Review: THNXX; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: XO Vision DX382 Universal Car Alarm System with Two 4-Button Remotes; Brand: XO Vision; Review: THNXX; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timken HA590099 Axle Bearing and Hub Assembly; Brand: Timken; Review: THNXX; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dorman 520-327 Control Arm; Brand: Dorman; Review: THNXX; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dorman 520-328 Control Arm; Brand: Dorman; Review: THNXX; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OTC 3100DLX AutoBoss V30 Deluxe Diagnostic System; Brand: OTC; Review: THNXX; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rubber Queen 70541 Carpeted 4 Piece Mat With Vinyl Heel Pad Black; Brand: Rubber Queen; Review: THNZ; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Actron CP9190 Elite AutoScanner Pro Diagnostic Code Scanner Kit (Includes CP9185 Base Scanner, OBDI & OBDII Cables with Hard; Brand: Actron; Review: THNZ; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Astron Hotel; City: Kos Town Kos Dodecanese South Aegean; Review: We arrived late on a wednesday night greeted by a lovely receptionist ionna and found our room was exactly what we booked, twin room overlooking pool with aircon and balcony. After reading other reviews i was surprised how good breakfast was, it included mushrooms,eggs,fried,boiled and scrambled,bacon or sausage and the usual bread, fruit, ham, cheese,coffee, juice etc, angela was always on hand to help. The pool is served by katerina who was excellent,even brought drinks to our sunbeds. There were no towels reserving beds, everyone came and went and we never found a problem getting a bed. Parking was free in a secure car park at rear of hotel. The location is spot on for kos town and we will return to this hotel next time we visit greece.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Axe Hotel; City: La Rochelle Charente Maritime Nouvelle Aquitaine; Review: Very good hotel in excellent location and very reasonably priced, the room was very clean but a little small and very hot, the staff were very helpful. the beds are comfortable and the shower is excellent. there is a secure underground parking area about 100 yards away which cost 5 euros overnight.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Leku Eder; City: San Sebastian Donostia Province of Guipuzcoa Basque Country; Review: stopped over one night. nice hotel. very friendly and helpful staff. nice refurbed room facing sea. excellent electric shuttered patio very secure. could not fault the room we have not stayed in a better room for the star rating which should be higher. free car park. taxi 8 euros to town.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Velada Merida; City: Merida Province of Badajoz Extremadura; Review: nice hotel with need of a refurb. staff good and helpful with limited english our problem not theirs. nice resturant and bar snack area. rooms okay location good about 15 mins walk into old town. merida itself is need of some serious money spending on everything. the streets were dirty and grafitti was everywhere. i think they have a political problem at the moment. poor resturants and poor sightseeing. after visiting salamanca this was a huge let down.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monte Carmelo Hotel; City: Seville Province of Seville Andalucia; Review: one night stop, very difficult to find even with satnav because of one way streets. nice hotel in good location near to pedestrian area and bridge for easy access to cathedral. room a little small but adequate with aircon and nice bathroom. car park underground quite tight for large car.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vincci Ciudad de Salamanca; City: Salamanca Province of Salamanca Castile and Leon; Review: stayed one night. excellent hotel. good rooms with all mod cons. staff speak english. 15 minute walk into town over bridge. hotel was full when we stayed but service was still up to scratch. car park is secure underground no problem parking. salamanca is by far the best city we have visited on our trips to spain, wish we had longer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sensimar Resort Riviera Maya; City: Puerto Aventuras Yucatan Peninsula; Review: first all inclusive trip for us from 2nd to 16th jan. flew thomson from bhx in premium section. must say poor flight very uncomfortable seats. 75 minute transfer to resort was good. we booked premium suites and although we requested low floor we were given room 601 top floor. first day was great, sunny and great swim up bar, in large quite pool area, in premium section, which anyone can use. unfortunately it then rained for most of the next 5 days, but the staff tried there best to keep everything going. we then requested a down grade to the swim up garden view suites, mainly because of the wind and noise in premium. 4 of us went to coco bongos night club with lomas travel in reception which was brilliant, go vip section for a table and waiter service, cab back £12-50 at 3-30am. hotel staff are excellent, food very good in all resturants. even though the resort was full we never waited longer than 5 minutes for a table, and never waited if we ate before 7-30pm or after 8-30pm. it is a shame guests put towels on sunbeds some reserve 4 beds so this tends to limit availability for the likes of us that do not get up before 8-30am. you cannot blame the hotel for this as there are enough for everyone if guests behave better. our favourite resturant was vida grill but all were a high standard of food and service, don't be frightened to order off menu as they will try to accomadate. can highly recommend the resort but not thomson. save your money on upgrades, all suites are excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Corona; City: Blackpool Lancashire England; Review: We stayed at the Corona Hotel 4th & 5th july and were very happy. The owners Paul and Richard are polite and very helpful. The breakfast was excellent, plenty of choice from cereals, fruit and any cooked breakfast of your choice. They have a nice bar and the drinks are reasonably priced, pleasantly suprised as prices in the town are expensive.The only reason we did not give 5 stars as the room was a little small although really clean. Would advise if staying longer than a couple of nights to request a larger room.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Brayton; City: Blackpool Lancashire England; Review: I booked 4 rooms for myself and family members. We had a twin which was small but adequate for a short stay. However room 12 had a miniscule wardrobe, and a shower that did not provide enough water to wash your hair let alone shower. It was clean, had a television and coffee making facilities. The location of the hotel is excellent. Close to the front and handy for the lights, bars and resturants. Breakfast was pre-ordered which was a good idea as you got exactly what you wanted. The hotel bar was poorly stocked, but there is a pub a few yards away. I wouldn't recommend eating there. I would have no problem staying again for a couple of nights. Single room rate is very competitive.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pacific Club Resort; City: Karon Beach Karon Phuket; Review: We stayed 7 nights in January. Our first time in Thailand. The staff at this hotel are as good as anywhere we have stayed around the world . Excellent accommodation, super breakfast, good resturants, nice pool area. Good location 10minutes walk from town. Totally safe. Karon itself does not have a great beach, but does have good bars and resturants.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Premier Miami International Airport Hotel Suites; City: Miami Florida; Review: Good hotel with shuttle service from airport. Rooms good and staff very helpful. beds very comfortable. air on also good and quiet. breakfast is the only thing that needs looking at, as the buffet is not hot enough if you want a cooked breakfast.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: LaGare Hotel Venezia MGallery by Sofitel; City: Murano Veneto; Review: Travelled Sunday 31st for 4 nights. The free shuttle only operates up until a certain time so check before travelling. However public water bus 7 euro per person from airport to murano collona then 10 minute walk. Hotel is very new, room excellent, service very good, all areas have a really nice atmosphere. There is a free shuttle to Venice which carries 12 people so you need to book early. Better option is to buy a 48 hour pass for 30 euros from tobacconists, this means you can hop on and off as many times as you like. We used it ask a taxi around Venice. Weather was great, we went to the lido for a day on the beach. Easy to get lost around Venice but a gondola ride is a must.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Morasol Suites; City: Puerto Rico Gran Canaria Canary Islands; Review: Went for a week with my son and his wife. Booked a junior suite, which had a fridge, coffee maker, kettle, toaster, etc. Nice bedroom, air con, lounge area and balcony overlooking the harbour. Perfect location if you like peace and quiet, but a nice stroll to beach and centre.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beaches Port Douglas; City: Port Douglas Queensland; Review: Stayed here for a week in feb, excellent location just a few yards from the beach and a couple of hundred yards from the main street of port Douglas. There is an excellent pool and Jacuzzi with sunbeds and parasols. The double rooms have great air-con and all the room you need, with a well stocked kitchen.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: B B Hotel Cartagena Cartagonova; City: Cartagena Municipality of Cartagena; Review: Stayed a couple of nights whilst visiting cartagena. Lovely hotel. Rooms are spacious and clean. Reception is excellent. Location is spot on for sight seeing, local bars and restaurants. Underground parking is 15 euros a day. Would definitely return if in this area again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Residencia San Remo; City: Alicante Costa Blanca Province of Alicante Valencian Country; Review: We stayed here for three nights with some friends whilst the euro's were on. The hotel is very close to some nice bars and restaurants, and only a 5 minute walk down to the beach and harbour. Clean and tidy rooms well kept. A little noise late in the evening when the football fans were enjoying themselves but not too bad. There is a 24 hour reception. Juan was very nice and helpful on the desk the other guy not so much. Good wifi, lift only for 2 people all in all nice stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Collingwood Hotel; City: Blackpool Lancashire England; Review: Booked 2 rooms online for Friday/Saturday bank holiday week-end. We were contacted by Pat the owner as to our arrival time, and he was there to welcome us on our arrival. The rooms were just as described. We were in a twin facing the road our friends in a double behind us. Nice room, clean with wifi, tea and coffee and ensuite bathroom. Full english breakfast was provided with juice and cereals. Nice bar and seating area. Well run establishment by a nice couple, will certainly return on our next visit to Blackpool.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel La Cumbre; City: Puerto de Mazarron Mazarron; Review: Booked the day before we arrived. Was very impressed by the reception staff who were very friendly and knowledgeable. We were given a free upgrade to a sea view room overlooking the pool on the second floor. Nice room with 2 good sized beds, good shower, plenty of draw and hanging room space. We ate there the first night, very nice if a little expensive. The only reason i wouldn't give 5 stars is the lift is a little slow, and walls are thin. Not suitable for people who cannot handle hill up to hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium; City: Singapore; Review: Quick stop over on way to Australia. Good location close to Chinatown and the river. Very good hotel with excellent staff. Rooms are quite large and the free mobile device in the room is a great idea for booking trips. Concierge service is very good, they were always taxis available and airport return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: St Giles Heathrow A St Giles Hotel; City: Feltham Hounslow Greater London England; Review: Drove down on Saturday morning to hotel for the rugby final at twickenham. We had a small problem at pre check in because i had booked 3 rooms thru different websites, all was sorted eventually. Left bags with concierge and went to the local pub. Excellent hotel to grab train to twickenham but easier to get off at whitton and walk. We returned later picked up our keys and stayed in a nice double room with air-con and free wifi. Good all round hotel at a reasonable price.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Iclub Sheung Wan Hotel; City: Hong Kong; Review: We booked an early bird saver, cash upfront, after being let down by another hotel. We were upgraded to a premier room on the 37th floor with views over the harbour. The hotel is very modern, clean, with good free wifi. I think it suits younger people, i'm old school and still would like a bar and restaurant onsite. However there are no negatives as regards the facilities this hotel offers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Tire Station; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: Stayed here for 3 nights Sunday to Wednesday. Very good location in quiet area right next to Vondelpark. Very modern eco hotel that has been opened in the last year. Good room with nice bathroom and shower. Young excellent staff all very friendly especially in the restaurant bar area. Mike the bar manager was always very helpful and friendly. Handy for trams,nice walks in park and airport.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Saxon House; City: York North Yorkshire England; Review: Stayed here for 2 nights whilst visiting York. Location is excellent, about 30 minutes walk to racecourse over the millennium bridge, about 15 minutes into city along the riverbank. Booked a twin which had a double and single bed on second floor. Breakfast was self service, so nothing hot except toast and drinks. Fridge had ham, cheese, fruit juice and there was a good selection of cereals. Negatives were the bathroom, which was very small and shower poor, room in need of some T.L.C. York guest houses are expensive during race week, so not a bad option.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Briary; City: Sheffield South Yorkshire England; Review: Whilst visiting friends we decided to stay over at the briary. Sal the owner called us and we picked the keys up and left our car in the car park. We left our cases and returned late in the evening by uber. The room was clean with a double and single bed, nice bathroom with shower over bathtub. The room was very warm during the evening because the central heating came on, however minor problem which we told sal about. Breakfast was freshly cooked exactly as required. Would not hesitate to stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Avra Hotel; City: Kamari Santorini Cyclades South Aegean; Review: Stayed 1 night on our way home from iOS. Nice hotel with a lovely pool and excellent staff. Great for 1 night but the beds are really hard and the shower is far to small. Air con was good, suite our needs but not suitable for longer stay unless they have bigger rooms and showers. Breakfast was buffet style offering cereals, tea, coffee, ham,cheese, cakes and fruit.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kritikakis Village Hotel; City: Ios Cyclades South Aegean; Review: Booked to stay here for 13 nights in September. Lovely hotel with excellent staff. Reception was very helpful and answered all our queries. We were given a free upgrade to an apartment which was excellent, with a great view of the beach. Pool area was great, very clean with a nice bar. Perfect location for the port and beach, also bus stop outside the reception for Chora village.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brickmakers Arms; City: Berkswell Solihull West Midlands England; Review: Four of us went for lunch here about 1pm Thursday. Very quiet. We had chicken kiev, bbq pulled pork and lasagna. Although it was a while coming all the food was very good at a reasonable price. Will certainly visit again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cabau Altair Apartments; City: Puerto Rico Gran Canaria Canary Islands; Review: Just returned home from Altair Apartments after a good week of sunshine in march. Apartments are spacious, modern, clean and well equipped. Nice balcony with table and chairs overlooking the pool area. Excellent pool and bar, with plenty of sun beds, no need to put towels down although some guests did. Riccardo the barman was first class, serving various food such as full english breakfast to omelettes, burgers etc, as well as cocktails and smoothies. The only reason i would not give 5 stars is there is no aircon, which at the height of summer may be a problem. Especially as it can get quiet noisy from the shopping centre below late at night with music until 4am, if you had windows open this would be a problem. As for the steps mentioned in other reviews, we found if turned right and walked down to the cala nova hotel the steps down were half as many.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Beechcliffe Hotel; City: Blackpool Lancashire England; Review: First time we have stayed at this b&b. Last minute booking as we came for a 90th birthday family celebration. I rang direct to hotel and all went really well. Very close to the casino where we booked on the Saturday evening for a meal. Rooms are very clean with an excellent en suite and a large shower. Breakfast was very good, and the owners are very friendly. Will not hesitate to return here on our next visit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Senhor de Matosinhos; City: Matosinhos Porto District Northern Portugal; Review: We stayed here for a couple of nights. We had a late flight, so we stayed first night then returned to airport for hire car. Ideal location for short stay. 24 hour reception. Nice quiet area. Nice room. Simple free breakfast, coffee, cereal, ham, cheese and fruit juice. Good free wifi. Only negative would be very small bathroom.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beautique WC Hotel; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: We stayed here for 3 nights whilst we visited Lisbon. The hotel is very modern with excellent staff. The rooms are very good but cannot get used to having a sink in the bedroom. Breakfast has a good choice but hot food is only warm.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Houses Apartments; City: Porto Porto District Northern Portugal; Review: Our first trip to porto, we found this place was a good location, even though it does not look like a great street. Everything you need is here. Met by Marina, who was very good with the info about local restaurants and places to visit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Miramar Sul; City: Nazare Leiria District Central Portugal; Review: Overall a very nice hotel but with some issues. Room very good with nice view of pool and port area. Nice bar and restaurant but service was random. Free shuttle but not running often enough. Staff very good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eco Beach Resort Byron Bay; City: Byron Bay Byron Shire New South Wales; Review: Really nice 2 bed adjoining apartment, easy walking to the centre. Excellent staff in a clean and safe well maintained property. Nice pool, good wifi and air con. Would certainly stay here again when we return to Byron bay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beachpark Apartments Coffs Harbour; City: Coffs Harbour New South Wales; Review: Although the apartment was not ready when we arrived the cleaning staff did a great job to get us ready fairly quickly. The 2 bed apartment was clean. The pool area was nice with a few sun beds. Wifi good. Location okay but not a lot to do in doffs harbour.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Waterview Apartments; City: Port Macquarie New South Wales; Review: My wife and I with another married couple stayed over 1 night on the way to Sydney. The check in was smooth and friendly. The 2 bed apartment was clean and safe, and suited our requirements. The only negative was the wifi which was a little random.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Travelodge Heathrow Central; City: Hounslow Greater London England; Review: Booked early online. good price for our overnight stay after a 14 hour flight from singapore. Hoppa service from airport takes about 20 minutes. Check in was seemless. Room was as expected, clean with good shower. Breakfast was better than expected.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Eyeshield 21; Genres: Action, Comedy, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hungry Heart: Wild Striker; Genres: Comedy, Shounen, Slice of Life, Sports; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Initial D Fourth Stage; Genres: Action, Cars, Drama, Seinen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Naruto; Genres: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Prince of Tennis; Genres: Action, Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Akira; Genres: Action, Adventure, Horror, Military, Sci-Fi, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: .hack//Sign; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Magic, Mystery, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Beck; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Music, Shounen, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: D.N.Angel; Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, School, Shoujo; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Black Cat; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Full Metal Panic!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu; Genres: Action, Comedy, School; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Mobile Suit Gundam Seed; Genres: Action, Drama, Mecha, Military, Romance, Sci-Fi, Space; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, Military, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: GetBackers; Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Shounen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Hunter x Hunter; Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hunter x Hunter OVA; Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hunter x Hunter: Greed Island; Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hunter x Hunter: Greed Island Final; Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Blood+; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Military, Mystery, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Juuni Kokuki; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Supernatural; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Shaman King; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Peace Maker Kurogane; Genres: Action, Comedy, Historical, Samurai, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Samurai 7; Genres: Historical, Mecha, Samurai, Sci-Fi; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: s.CRY.ed; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Slam Dunk; Genres: Comedy, Drama, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Initial D First Stage; Genres: Action, Cars, Drama, Seinen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Initial D Second Stage; Genres: Action, Cars, Drama, Seinen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Wolf's Rain; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Samurai Champloo; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Historical, Samurai, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Ranma ½; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Slice of Life; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Dragon Ball; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Elfen Lied; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological, Romance, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Eureka Seven; Genres: Adventure, Drama, Mecha, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Great Teacher Onizuka; Genres: Comedy, Drama, School, Shounen, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Groove Adventure Rave; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: InuYasha; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hajime no Ippo; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hajime no Ippo: Champion Road; Genres: Comedy, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hajime no Ippo: Mashiba vs. Kimura; Genres: Comedy, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Bleach; Genres: Action, Comedy, Shounen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Hellsing; Genres: Action, Horror, Seinen, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: .hack//Tasogare no Udewa Densetsu; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Game, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Shakugan no Shana; Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, School, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Fate/stay night; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Capeta; Genres: Cars, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Yuu☆Yuu☆Hakusho; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Martial Arts, School, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kaleido Star: Legend of Phoenix - Layla Hamilton Monogatari; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Shoujo; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: The Law of Ueki; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Yu☆Gi☆Oh! Duel Monsters; Genres: Adventure, Game, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Adventure; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Major S2; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Major S1; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: MÄR; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hellsing Ultimate; Genres: Action, Horror, Military, Seinen, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Dragon Ball Z; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Kiba; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Air Gear; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: .hack//Roots; Genres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Game, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Aa! Megami-sama!: Sorezore no Tsubasa; Genres: Comedy, Magic, Romance, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Tsubasa Chronicle 2nd Season; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Prince of Tennis: The National Tournament; Genres: Action, Comedy, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Ranma ½ OVA; Genres: Comedy, Martial Arts, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Medarot; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Zero no Tsukaima; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, Romance, School; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Erementar Gerad; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Saint Seiya; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Adventure 02; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Aoki Densetsu Shoot!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: D.Gray-man; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage; Genres: Action, Seinen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Death Note; Genres: Mystery, Police, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Busou Renkin; Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, School, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi; Genres: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, School, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch; Genres: Action, Mecha, Military, School, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Katekyo Hitman Reborn!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Kekkaishi; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kaze no Stigma; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Claymore; Genres: Action, Adventure, Demons, Fantasy, Shounen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Major S3; Genres: Drama, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha; Genres: Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Over Drive; Genres: Shounen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Mobile Suit Gundam 00; Genres: Action, Drama, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi, Space; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Tsubasa: Tokyo Revelations; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Shakugan no Shana II (Second); Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, School, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch R2; Genres: Action, Drama, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Major S4; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Soul Eater; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season; Genres: Action, Drama, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi, Space; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Yu☆Gi☆Oh! 5D's; Genres: Action, Game, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Prince of Tennis: The National Tournament Finals; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Chrome Shelled Regios; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: RideBack; Genres: Action, Drama, Mecha, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Major S5; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Major Movie: Yuujou no Winning Shot; Genres: Action, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: One Outs; Genres: Psychological, Seinen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, Military, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Inazuma Eleven; Genres: Shounen, Sports, Super Power; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: 07-Ghost; Genres: Action, Demons, Fantasy, Magic, Military, Shoujo; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Prince of Tennis: Another Story - Messages From Past and Future; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Angel Beats!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, School, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: 11eyes; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Fairy Tail; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Deadman Wonderland; Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Fate/stay night Movie: Unlimited Blade Works; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Magic, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Nurarihyon no Mago; Genres: Action, Demons, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Major S6; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Sports; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Highschool of the Dead; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Horror, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 4 - The Lost Tower; Genres: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Toaru Majutsu no Index II; Genres: Action, Magic, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Air Gear: Kuro no Hane to Nemuri no Mori - Break on the Sky; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Break Blade 4: Sanka no Chi; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Mecha, Military, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Major: Message; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Ao no Exorcist; Genres: Action, Demons, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Gintama'; Genres: Action, Comedy, Historical, Parody, Samurai, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai.; Genres: Drama, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou; Genres: Action, Demons, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Naruto x UT; Genres: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Fate/Zero; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Aquarion Evol; Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mecha, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Blood-C; Genres: Action, Horror, School, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 5 - Blood Prison; Genres: Action, Adventure, Martial Arts, Mystery, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Mirai Nikki (TV); Genres: Action, Mystery, Psychological, Shounen, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Guilty Crown; Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Another; Genres: Horror, Mystery, School, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Zero no Tsukaima F; Genres: Adventure, Ecchi, Fantasy, Magic, Romance; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: New Prince of Tennis; Genres: Action, Comedy, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Area no Kishi; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Sword Art Online; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Romance; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Accel World; Genres: Action, Game, Romance, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Kuroko no Basket; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Major: World Series; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Sakamichi no Apollon; Genres: Drama, Josei, Music, Romance, School; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: New Prince of Tennis Specials; Genres: Action, Comedy, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 6 - Road to Ninja; Genres: Action, Adventure, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Btooom!; Genres: Action, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: K; Genres: Action, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Initial D Fifth Stage; Genres: Action, Cars, Drama, Seinen, Sports; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: High School DxD New; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Shingeki no Kyojin; Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Magi: The Kingdom of Magic; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kill la Kill; Genres: Action, Comedy, School, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Gundam Build Fighters; Genres: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Sword Art Online: Extra Edition; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Romance; Rating: 7.0/10.0 | anime |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Sperry Men's Authentic Original Shoes; Brand: SPERRY; Review: I have several pairs of the shoes in different colors. They are my favorite go to casual shoes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sperry Men's Authentic Original Shoes; Brand: SPERRY; Review: I have several pairs of the shoes in different colors. They are my favorite go to casual shoes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sperry Top-Sider Men's Authentic Original 2-Eye Boat Shoes, Genuine All Leather and Non-Marking Rubber Outsole; Brand: SPERRY; Review: I have several pairs of the shoes in different colors. They are my favorite go to casual shoes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sperry Top-Sider Men's Authentic Original 2-Eye Boat Shoes, Genuine All Leather and Non-Marking Rubber Outsole; Brand: SPERRY; Review: I have several pairs of the shoes in different colors. They are my favorite go to casual shoes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fruit of the Loom Men's Elastic Bottom Sweatpant; Brand: ; Review: Great quality material, design and price. Love the pockets, and gathered legs. Fits very well. Good price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kahala Men's Kimo II Short; Brand: Kahala; Review: Great price, great product, great seller!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell; Author: Visit Amazon's Tucker Max Page; Review: sexist and gross. typical frat boy wet dream; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat (Picador); Author: Visit Amazon's Oliver Sacks Page; Review: bought as a gift for myself. Enjoyable read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Official A Game of Thrones Coloring Book: An Adult Coloring Book (A Song of Ice and Fire); Author: Visit Amazon's George R. R. Martin Page; Review: I got this as a gift for my friend who is a huge Game of Thrones nerd. She loves it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I am the Cheese (Puffin Teenage Fiction); Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Cormier Page; Review: bought as a gift for myself. Enjoyable read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor; Author: Visit Amazon's Bruce Campbell Page; Review: bought this as a gift for my boyfriend who is a huge Bruce Campbell fan. He keeps reading the funniest passages to me. Sounds like it's worth the read. May have to steal it when he is done ;); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sociopath Next Door - The Ruthless Versus The Rest Of Us; Author: Visit Amazon's Martha Stout Page; Review: bought as a gift for myself. Enjoyable read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Release Your Anger: Midnight; Author: Visit Amazon's James Alexander Page; Review: bought it as a gift for a friend. She absolutely loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eat Like a Gilmore: The Unofficial Cookbook for Fans of Gilmore Girls; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristi Carlson Page; Review: I bought this as a gift for my sister who is an amazing cook and a huge fan of the show. It arrived at its earliest estimated date of arrival. And she absolutely loved it. would order from this company again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Go F*ck Yourself, I'm Coloring: Swear Word Coloring Book; Author: Alex Fleming; Review: bought this as a gift for a friend. She loves it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Devil's Knot: The Story Of The West Memphis Three (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Mara Leveritt Page; Review: bought as a gift for myself. Enjoyable read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Make People Think You Are Normal (Truth about Life Humor Books); Author: Wayne Allred; Review: Enjoyable book. Quick read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Geezerhood: What to expect from life now that you're as old as dirt (Truth about Life Humor Books); Author: Visit Amazon's Wayne Allred Page; Review: Book wasn't as funny as I expected. Quick read tho.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Heaven (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Importance of Being Earnest (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lock (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Don't Say a Word (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tomb Raider (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 5 (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Old School (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uptown Girls (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lantana (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: High Fidelity (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Down the House (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: High Crimes (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Adaptation (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All About My Mother (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Quiet American (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde 2: Red (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Deep End (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Billabong Odyssey (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Full-screen) (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bubble Boy (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Just Married (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bandits (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: From Hell (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Original Sin (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wonder Boys (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Matchstick Men (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Cut (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Last Orders (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Missing (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Jury (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cold Creek Manor (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Intolerable Cruelty (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Holy Smoke (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Amores Perros (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Melvin Goes to Dinner (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Veronica Guerin (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mule Skinner Blues (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wet Hot American Summer (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: House of Sand and Fog (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dead Calm (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Something's Gotta Give (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: U.S. Marshals (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amelie (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Unfaithful (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Life of David Gale (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Bedroom (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Radio (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: White Oleander (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gothika (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 4 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Evelyn (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 3 (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 1 (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Winged Migration (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Open Range (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Holes (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dopamine (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Japanese Story (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bridget Jones's Diary (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grosse Pointe Blank (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: State and Main (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bulworth (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 6: Part 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Spanish Prisoner (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: In the Heat of the Night (1967); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Life Is Beautiful (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 2 (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Frida (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Training Day (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Mind (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bend It Like Beckham (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Identity (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Freaky Friday (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: About a Boy (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Signs (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: One Hour Photo (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I Am Sam (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Laurel Canyon (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Murder By Numbers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Insomnia (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Love Jones (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pieces of April (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Windtalkers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Moulin Rouge (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 2 (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mona Lisa Smile (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Hours (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Ring (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vanilla Sky (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Super Troopers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eraser (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: G.I. Jane (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Passenger 57 (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Usual Suspects (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stepmom (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster's Ball (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scary Movie (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sweet Hereafter (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: My Life Without Me (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Duplex (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Moonlight Mile (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pay It Forward (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beaches (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Paycheck (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Of Mice And Men (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mulholland Drive (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 3 (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Club Dread (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Picture Perfect (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Elephant Man (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Magnolia (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sixteen Candles (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Moonstruck (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lion King: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tommy Boy (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Singer (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Secret Lives of Dentists (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bad Santa (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eurotrip (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secret Window (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Say Anything (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secretary (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Capture the Castle (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blue Crush (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crazy/Beautiful (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Here on Earth (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Below (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tuesdays with Morrie (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Almost Famous (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Station Agent (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Election (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Six Feet Under: Season 2 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Fish (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: CSI: Season 2 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Igby Goes Down (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tape (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 6 (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tortilla Soup (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Big Night (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Big Kahuna (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: CSI: Season 3 (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Waking Ned Devine (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: You Can Count on Me (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tadpole (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gosford Park (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nurse Betty (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Bug's Life (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Six Feet Under: Season 1 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love Liza (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Billy Elliot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Starsky & Hutch (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Charlotte Gray (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cold Mountain (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Whale Rider (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Breakfast Club (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: L.A. Confidential (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Straight Story (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trapped (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Like Water for Chocolate (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The English Patient (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Road to Perdition (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Shipping News (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Red Violin (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nobody's Fool (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meet Joe Black (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Human Stain (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: X2: X-Men United (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secondhand Lions (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Seabiscuit (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Angel Eyes (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Catch Me If You Can (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Focus (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: South Park: Bigger (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Zoolander (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cell (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sling Blade (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blue (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Big Bounce (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fifteen Minutes (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ponette (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Smilla's Sense of Snow (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Camille Claudel (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hannibal (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blow (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: When a Man Loves a Woman (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dangerous Beauty (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Snatch (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Insider (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Great Outdoors (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Dreamers (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Whole Nine Yards (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: O Brother (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Joy Luck Club (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amadeus (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 1 (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Whole Ten Yards (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Company (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Chasing Amy (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fallen (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sylvia (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Along Came a Spider (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pillow Book (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jackie Brown: Collector's Series (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Governess (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sense and Sensibility (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saving Grace (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Salton Sea (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Connie and Carla (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tea with Mussolini (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Misery (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Iris (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Big Lebowski (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kiss of the Dragon (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elizabeth (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Godsend (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Scary Movie 3 (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Muriel's Wedding (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thunderheart (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 3 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: What Lies Beneath (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Girl Next Door (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Dragon (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Calendar Girls (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Seven (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: View from the Top (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Ladykillers (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: An Everlasting Piece (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pilot's Wife (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Laws of Attraction (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Great Gatsby (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Random Hearts (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Deep End of the Ocean (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The United States of Leland (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blow Dry (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Autumn in New York (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Primal Fear (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Juror (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Emmanuelle 5 (1992); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Northfork (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taking Lives (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Awakenings (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Good Will Hunting (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bone Collector (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Virgin Suicides (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spartan (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kiss the Girls (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: And Now ... Ladies and Gentlemen (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clerks: First Cut (Not Theatrical Version) (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Envy (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Good Morning (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Poets Society (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coffee and Cigarettes (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Pride and Prejudice (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Italian for Beginners (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dogtown and Z-Boys (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Few Good Men (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: He Loves Me (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tumbleweeds (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Till Human Voices Wake Us (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raising Helen (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Believer (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saved! (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Run Lola Run (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Slaughter Rule (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Happenstance (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Intermission (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Love Me If You Dare (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Billy Madison (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shallow Hal (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sex and Lucia (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Stepford Wives (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Before Sunset (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mansfield Park (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Before Sunrise (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 4 (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mary Poppins (1964); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 1 Giant Leap (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Van Helsing (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Little Shop of Horrors (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ali G Indahouse (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Elf (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Home at the End of the World (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: We Don't Live Here Anymore (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Maria Full of Grace (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Clearing (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shadow of the Vampire (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Good Girl (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Changing Lanes (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Door in the Floor (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Garden State (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 6: Part 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Collateral (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Without a Paddle (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Danny Deckchair (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shall We Dance? (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Silver City (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: XX/XY (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Employee of the Month (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Forgotten (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shaun of the Dead (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Motorcycle Diaries (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I Heart Huckabees (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spanglish (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Clerks (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Extended Edition (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Closer (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ray (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Twelve (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mean Creek (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Fockers (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Birth (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elektra (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Final Cut (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Being Julia (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: House of Flying Daggers (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: When Harry Met Sally (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 3 (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Patch Adams (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Stand and Deliver (1987); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Entrapment (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Extended Edition (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Bride (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stand by Me (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Forrester (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sea Inside (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kinsey (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sacred Planet (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 21 Grams (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Merchant of Venice (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Aviator (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Gift (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swimming Pool (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Be Cool (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scent of a Woman (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Get Shorty (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Indigo (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Changing Hearts (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hitch (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Human Nature (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Super Sucker (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sense and Sensibility (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sideways (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ram Dass: Fierce Grace (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bride and Prejudice (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What the #$*! Do We Know!? (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dogma (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dear Frankie (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Tao of Steve (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Novocaine (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Baraka (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Upside of Anger (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: South Park: Season 1 (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Million Dollar Baby (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Guess Who (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monster-in-Law (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Paradise Road (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Dirty Shame (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sin City (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 12 Monkeys (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rory O'Shea Was Here (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: South Park: Season 5 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Traffic (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sahara (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Six Feet Under: Season 4 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Edward Scissorhands (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American History X (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crash (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Toy Story (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Harold and Maude (1971); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Simpsons: Season 4 (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleepy Hollow (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: There's Something About Mary: Special Edition (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hidalgo (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rivers and Tides (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Antwone Fisher (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rushmore (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Weight of Water (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko: Director's Cut (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Drugstore Cowboy (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lords of Dogtown (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Summer of Love (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Enduring Love (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Always a Bridesmaid (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hurlyburly (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kissing Jessica Stein (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Cure (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Layer Cake (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Supremacy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shark Tale (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Thirteen (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Secret Garden (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mana: Beyond Belief (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Machinist (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Beauty (1971); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nicholas Nickleby (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Suspect Zero (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hearts in Atlantis (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Project X (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beetlejuice (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dances With Wolves: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Babette's Feast (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: P.S. (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stir of Echoes (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cast Away (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alfie (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nobody Knows (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Untamed Heart (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: SYLO (The SYLO Chronicles); Author: Visit Amazon's D. J. MacHale Page; Review: This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It was active and very easy to follow. I cannot wait for the 2nd book to come out on March the 25th.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Insignia; Author: Visit Amazon's S. J. Kincaid Page; Review: As I didn't read the first book, I thought the first chapters went slow. After that the action was faster and I was understanding it better. I will read this book again later on. It was a good one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Storm: The SYLO Chronicles #2; Author: Visit Amazon's D. J. MacHale Page; Review: It was a great 2nd book. There was a twist I reality didn't except. I don't want my summer to fly by,but I can hardly wait for October.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DISNEY: NINE CLASSIC; Author: Various; Review: gift-- but as a child and giving to my children they were great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Breakout (Final Dawn) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Darrell Maloney Page; Review: This entire series of books are great to follow. They become just like family. I think it tells of what life would be like after a true disaster.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Search (Final Dawn) (Volume 7); Author: Visit Amazon's Darrell Maloney Page; Review: The next book comes out in Feb. and I can't wait. I have read all 7 of this series and the characters have become friends to me. They feel very real when you read these books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sleeping Giant: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Dusty Grein Page; Review: This book was very believable. It was the type of book that would make think and study about the subject. You did a good job Dusty. Thank you.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Adventures of Geraldine Woolkins; Author: Visit Amazon's Karin Kaufman Page; Review: This is a story any child or adult should read. To have these little animals come to life. So much fun and so real.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Baumanburi Hotel; City: Patong Kathu Phuket; Review: We purchased a deluxe room week stay through a coupon voucher. We requested queen beds but got two singles. When we asked to be moved the reception staff seemed vague and not very helpful despite resort being only 50% occupied. The Ezystay representative was on site and intervened yet it still took two days to be moved. Don’t be guided by the glossy pictures on the web. Resort is dated and rooms need renovating. TV reception was fuzzy and went off for one night. Have to pay for WiFi but too slow and eats up the time.The pool area is clean and relaxing. Breakfast selection was acceptable but luke warm. Money went missing from the room. We reported it to the Front Office Manager who advised that for security purposes, their policy is that two cleaners must be present to clean each room and to list any items of value found. CCTV footage shows only one cleaner entered the room!! Manager was sympathetic but very evasive and took no action. Prepaid for airport transfers, return transfer failed to turn up and we had to pay for a taxi. Overall it was not an enjoyable experience. Would never stay there again and would not recommend it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong; City: Hong Kong; Review: We stayed at this hotel 25-29 April 2013. We had booked the Executive Suites and were ushered straight to the Executive Lounge on the 18th floor for priority check-in (and also check-out). Our room on the 17th floor was a good size and very clean. King bed was comfortable. We were not affected by any street noise. The hotel is centrally located on lower Nathan Road with the MTR at your door and easy walking to the Star Ferry and bus stops (the 973 takes you to Stanley Markets and the A21 (HKD33) to the airport is just across the street a bit). There is plenty of shopping nearby and an easy 15-20 minute walk to the night markets. Recommend you upgrade to the Executive Suites which avails you the use of the Executive Lounge - private breakfast, coffee/tea & pastries through the day and snack meals & drinks 6-8.30pm. We used the breakfast buffett on the 1st floor and while a little crowded there was a plentiful supply and good service. The wi-fi connection is free and quick. The Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong is highly recommended for its location, good service and good size clean accommodation. Will definately go back when in HK.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mantra Twin Towns; City: Coolangatta Gold Coast Queensland; Review: We booked a 'Show & Stay' package and added an extra day which we consider is good value. We were in the Ocean View Hotel section on Level 3. The room was hotel style, clean, air conditioned and enough space for 2 people. The balcony gave ocean glimpses and was cool for afternoon drinks. Parking under, and free WiFi which we found very slow (as in most hotels). You can include breakfast in Signatures Restaurant in the Lobby if you wish. Handy location to all amenities, direct access to Twin Towns Services Club and all it has to offer, including well priced spectacular shows in the world class showroom and plenty of eating options. We have stayed here a few times and would not hesitate in coming back.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur; City: Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan; Review: This hotel is the heart of the Kuala Lumpur shopping precinct, there is no shortage of shopping and eateries all within a short walk. About a 20 minute walk to Petronas Towers and half an hour to the Old Town markets. It is a busy hotel and check-in was a little slow for us, but as expected. The rooms are hotel style and were modern and clean. Tea and coffee facilities and free wi-fi were available. There are plenty of yummy choices if you include the breakfast. The only criticism was the waiting time for a lift - it seemed that maybe all were lifts were not in service.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Taj Yeshwantpur Bengaluru; City: Bengaluru Bangalore District Karnataka; Review: The Taj Yeshwantpur is a modern hotel with excellent facilities, both for holiday and business with several conference options. Security is tight (car, luggage & personal scanning) which is good and the reception staff were friendly and always helpful. We stayed in a Executive Suite on Level 8. We arranged several car/drivers (cost about A$100 a day) as it is best way to manoeuvre the hectic traffic. There are several dining options and the buffet breakfast had plenty of western and Asian choices. The wait staff and chefs were very willing and catered to your needs. The rooms were spacious, air conditioned and cleaned every day. As an extra courtesy fresh fruit and biscuits were delivered every afternoon and, late in the afternoon, house cleaning checked to see if we needed anything before they left. Free Internet Wi-fi was good. There are plenty of TV channel options but obviously not all choices. Free bottled water was replenished every day. The pool and spa area were a welcome. The only negative was the location, about 15 kilometres from the city centre. A drive may take up to 2 hours depending on the horrendous traffic unless you wish to attempt the train which is right at the front entrance (but apparently it only goes 4 klms then you have to change). As such, there are limited places to walk to surrounding the resort. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the airport.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sandcastles Mooloolaba; City: Mooloolaba Sunshine Coast Queensland; Review: Sandcastles Mooloolaba Apartments are very centrally located, next to the surf club. There are only 4 levels and each apartment is self-contained and offers excellent ocean views. It is a 50 metre walk to the main beach. Unless you plan on trips to the hinterland, you can park your car under and walk to most local attractions including Sea Life Aquariums (formerly Underwater World). Hosts Bridgette & Charles made you feel very welcome. There was even a bottle on complimentary wine in our room. Because of our booking at short notice we had to change rooms after 2 days but this transition was seamless. Bridgett & Charles even offered to move our stuff. The rooms were spacious and very clean. A good selection of free and pay TV options are included. The pool and spa area is not very big but very functional. There are several BBQ options also on level 1. We stayed on level 3 and surprisingly there was very limited street noise given its location next to the popular surf club. It is advertised as adults only accommodation but kids are very welcome to visit. An excellent location to return to. The only criticism we had was there is no visitor parking and there are time restrictions on surrounding street parking.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: hito; Brand: hito; Review: It's OK if you don't need accuracy at least once a week. The thing works great until it doesn't. At least once per week, usually Sunday night, it re-sets to US time, and my time zone is 5 hours ahead of the US East Coast. So, that makes it useless as an alarm. I never know when I'll look at it and get the wrong time. I'd have returned it if I didn't live in West Africa.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jokari Soda Can Pump Fizz Carbonation Keeper Saver Single; Brand: Jokari; Review: I loved this until the cheap, plastic piece that goes around the rim of the can snapped off. It works well, but is doomed to break easily since the plastic used to make the part with the most stress on it is poor quality.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ivation Precision-Temperature Electric Hot Water Tea Kettle Pot 1.7 Liter (7-Cup), 1500 Watt, Stainless Steel; Brand: Ivation; Review: Works very well, but arrived with a hole in the plastic handle, so the handle, at least, is definitely not made to last. For the price, I'd expect better materials.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven 1800-Watt Convection Toaster Oven with Element IQ, Silver; Brand: Breville; Review: Works beautifully, as do all my Breville appliances.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RSVP Endurance Stainless Steel Egg Spoons, Set of 4; Brand: RSVP International; Review: They're tiny metal spoons. What else can you say?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Set of 2 Viennese Spatula for Spreading, Smoothing, Lifting, Folding, Scraping; Brand: Chef Craft; Review: Flimsy, and not really worth using. Doesn't do the job.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Yummy Sam Egg; Brand: Yummy Sam; Review: I washed these ONCE, and the entire shiny veneer came off. Now I just have rusty metal spirals that aren't suitable for for food. I can't believe this seller is putting this junk on the market. I am returning and will stay away from this seller.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Porlien White Porcelain Spoons, Teaspoons, set of 6 (6 Inches); Brand: Porlien; Review: As advertised.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ateco 10 Inch Bowl Scraper/Spatula; Brand: Ateco; Review: Flimsy, and not really worth using. Doesn't do the job.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lenox Tuscany Classics Flutes - Set of 6; Brand: Lenox; Review: I wrote that one arrived broken, and nobody responded. That is inexcusable.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Contigo SnapSeal Byron Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Mug, 16 oz, Vivacious; Brand: Contigo; Review: Old Contigo model used to pop open in my purse and made a lot of mess. As long as you remember to close this one, it'll never come open. Also keeps liquids cooler/hotter longer than old model, and I like the larger size.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Hiteker LCD37A5F 37-Inch 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV (Black); Brand: Hiteker; Review: The unknown "HITEKER" name made me hesitate buying this TV.. but the low price and Amazon's reputation of returns/refunds convinced me to take the chance... I got it for only $219.00 and with FREE shipping.... the setup was fast and simple.. and using an HDMI cable, setting up the VHS/DVD player/recorder was as simple as plugging in just one cable.. From box to watching a movie in about 30 minutes.. Definitely a 5 star rating; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: iRulu Artificial Leather Case & USB Keyboard for 7 inch 16:9 Android Tablet pc with 2 USB adapter cable; Brand: iRULU; Review: Read the other reviews and hesitated ordering this .. but went ahead and took the chance it would work on my "MID" 7" tablet.. and it did.. works perfectly with the included adapters.. Fantastic unit.. and I PAID NOTHING for it by using my Discover and Amazon cash rebates .. plus the shipping was also free.. WHADDAHECK how ya gonna beat that deal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Insten Universal Car Audio Cassette Adapter (HDMI); Brand: INSTEN; Review: works great.. Highly recommend this cable; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 4 Fenzer Rechargeable Cordless Phone Batteries for Uniden BT-1005 BT1005 Cordless Telephone Battery Replacement Packs; Brand: Fenzer; Review: Works perfectly.. so it's a little smaller than the original battery .. who cares.. I don't shake the phone when talking on it and therefore there is no rattle. I Highly recommend these batteries.. They beat other store prices by a mile..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Panasonic CR-P2PA/1B Photo Power CR-P2 Lithium Battery, 1 Pack (Gold); Brand: Panasonic; Review: fits camera perfectly.. but now camera is broken and have no need for battery any more..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Generic USB A Female to Mini USB B 5 Pin Male Adapter (SF4814); Brand: Generic; Review: IF.. you need something like this.. this is the one to get..; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics USB 2.0 Extension Cable - A-Male to A-Female - 9.8 Feet (3 Meters); Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: works great for extending USB connection from computer up to top of my desk where other things are plugged in; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Generic Smallest Bluetooth 2.0 Adapter Dongle (30000212); Brand: Generic; Review: OK but not great; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: eForCity® GOLD HDMI Type A to Type D F/ Adapter HD; Brand: INSTEN; Review: works as designed; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Insten Micro USB OTG to USB 2.0 Adapter Cable Compatible With Samsung Galaxy S7/S6/S6 Edge/Note 4/3; Brand: INSTEN; Review: works great with my Wonder Media tablet connecting to keyboard; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SanDisk Ultra 32GB UHS-I/Class 10 Micro SDHC Memory Card With Adapter - SDSDQUAN-032G-G4A; Brand: SanDisk; Review: Perfect.. say's it all.. and cheaper than Walmart price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pyle Dual Dash Cam Car Backup Camera | Car Recorder | Blackbox DVR | Rear Camera; Brand: Pyle; Review: Works as described.. but I should have bought the dashboard style instead of this clip over the mirror style.. The back up camera works great and allows clear vision when backing up in tight spaces and even during the snow storm,; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: WD Blue 6TB PC Hard Drive - 5400 RPM Class, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD60EZRZ; Brand: Western Digital; Review: PERFECT.. works as good as the expensive brand; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Genuine Uniden Model Bt- 1025 Rechargeable Cordless Handset Phone Battery (2 Pack); Brand: Uniden; Review: Have ordered these before for past phones and never had a problem.. they work as they should.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: 1:24,000 Credit Card Sized UTM Slot Tool; Brand: MapTools; Review: 1:24,000 Scale UTM Slot CardThe item is sturdy, compact and well marked. It fits nicely in the shoe of my Brunton Eclipse 8099, which is an added convenience to me. I would recommend this item for anyone that uses topo maps @1:24000 scale (usgs etc.). The smallest graduations marked on the scale are almost too small to be practical unless you have a really good eye and a VERY ACCURATE map, but for what it's worth they're there for you to use or ignore. The only problem I have with the order per se, is that after paying $4.25 for the product I was then charged another $4.00 for shipping via USPS. Is the product worth $8.25? Not hardly, but that's 'my bad'. I recommend watching shipping rates for ALL vendors and perhaps ordering enough product from the same vendor to make the cost of shipping a little less than 94% of the item price. To summarize: Item, FIVE STARS; vendor, only THREE STARS and that because of shipping rates.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Condor Tool & Knife Condor Tool and Knife CTK232-4.3HC Bushslore Survival Knife; Brand: Condor Tool & Knife; Review: Purchased through Amazon for $30.35 with free shipping. The Condor Bushlore knife is a rough copy of one that Ray Mears had custom made by a smith in Sweden. The pattern seems to be ubiquitous in bush craft knives made by other companies. I purchased this knife to replace a Helle Symphoni which was a pretty darn good woods knife, but just not thick enough for my taste. My wife had been eyeballing the Helle because of its curly birch handle anyway, so I saw my chance and she happily approved the purchase. The blade length is 4 5/16 with a thickness of 1/8. It has a Rockwell Hardness of 56-58, a blasted satin finish and an overall length of 9 5/16. One side of the blade is stamped El Salvador and the other with the company name. Both stampings are modest in size. The grind resembles the much vaunted Scandi or Scandinavian type and runs about 3/8 wide. The grind goes nearly all the way from the tip to the handle where it leaves a ricasso of about 3/16. It has a drop point profile that very nearly resembles a spear point so the point is at the center of the blade. The knife has a full tang, which is a must for me. The very dense and dark colored wood used for the scales is simply described as, hardwood in the catalogue. The scales are attached with two 3/16 brass pins and the handle has a brass lined lanyard hole 1/4 from the end. The sheath was a disappointment though, but not because of any defect. I was a little let down that there was absolutely no reason to make a new one, which I often do when I acquire a knife. The leather on the sheath is heavy and the welt is thick enough to more than accommodate the blade and protect the stitching, which is tight and runs between 4 and 5 stitches per inch. The coffee colored leather is riveted top and bottom with good quality, silver colored rivets, not the cheap ones with the hole in the back. The sheath is stamped with a Condor logo about the size of a thumbprint and holds the knife in a solid grip by friction. This last feature is important to me because I prefer not to have a retaining strap on what I call my handy knives. I like being able to simply reach for it and pull it out. For that reason I prefer to have a sheath that is form fitted, tight, and deep enough to hold at least the lower third of the handle, that ensures the knife won't fall out on its own, the Bushlores sheath goes up the handle about half way. The Condor Bushlore knife is made of 1075 carbon steel, which seems to be a standard offering in the Condor line and came out of the box, literally, shaving sharp. Thats no real feat nowadays since Ive seen $8.00 Pakistani survival knives do the same. This one though, unlike the Pakistani; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: General Ecology First Need Deluxe Replacement Canister; Brand: General Ecology; Review: I ordered a replacement filter and the first thing I did was test it. It failed the dye test without having pumped a single drop of water for consumption. I'm glad I tested it before needing it. On the brighter side, I returned the item and got an immediate, no hassle, refund. Having now replaced the canister with a working unit, here's my review.... I've used First Need water purifiers for years. While the amount of water one can process is limited in comparison to other brands, this filter beats them all and here's why: 150 (XL) to 180 (XLE) gallons of water is a lot! Not only does the unit remove enough biological contamination to make water safe to use but, it also does a pretty good job of eliminating foul tastes and odors. The nicest thing is that it does it all in one step. Another thing I've noticed over the years is that it is much easier to use than most other backpacking sized models I've tried; in fact, I haven't used one yet with the same flow rate for the same amount of required effort. If someone thinks that the amount of water that may be safely processed is too low, I would recommend a replacement cartridge be had on hand. The way I figure it, 150-180 gallons of potable water is enough for at least two months usage for two people. I wouldn't be surprised if the filter life could be extended by as much as 50 gallons if a flocculant were to be used for turbid water as a pretreatment and back-flushing was done on a regular basis. We all know how important safe and even palatable water is when hiking or even out of country so I would recommend that users carried either a spare canister or a back-up means of purification such as chemicals, just in case. Just my opinion, just sayin'.......; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hammock Bliss Mosquito Free Camping Hammock With Bug Screen Mossy Netting Canopy - Integrated Suspension 100"; Brand: Hammock Bliss; Review: I love it! I love camping. It's a part of who I am and something I enjoy during every season, from -40 F winter nights to sultry summer nights, I go whenever the opportunity presents itself. That said, a couple of weeks ago my age along with the results of a work accident some 14 years ago caught up to me. I went camping with my son and grandson, something i'd been looking forward to for months. Problem was, I had to have my son help me get up off the ground in the morning. I'm used to agonizing mornings, but this was a first. It was devastating. Camping is one of the few things that I still enjoy. Someone recommended a hammock. I was skeptical, but my back was against the wall. I researched every brand I could find and spent a lot of time reading reviews and watching them on You Tube. I wanted a decent hammock for a moderate price, an item that was quality made and yet didn't need to be expedition quality. I chose the Hammock Bliss Mosquito Free. I set it up with no worries. Simple to do even when using a tarp overhead. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that setting one of these up is nearly intuitive. The top of the screen should be placed about one foot above the hammock for the first trial and then lay in it to stretch it out. You may want to tie the lines for the screen loosely just in case since the stretch of the fabric is variable with every situation. Make any adjustments after seeing how much stretch there will be. Every one weighs different and the distance between trees will vary, so this is a good policy each time you set up in a new location. I was so anxious to test this out that as soon as I set it up, I laid down and tried it. It was so much more comfortable than a sleeping pad (even my expensive self-inflating) that I couldn't believe it. I slept in it in my back yard and woke up feeling even more refreshed than if I'd slept in my own bed. Honestly, it was that comfortable. The hammock is very well constructed without the irish pennants that accompany poorly manufactured goods that are sewn together in a sweat shop. The screen material is super strong and any rips or tears that one may experience are either a fluke or due to abuse/misuse. At this point, unless there is a failure in the actual construction of the hammock, it deserves every bit of 5 stars. The only thing that will keep me from using it will be my physical health and not the hammock itself.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: G.I. Issue Water Pure Tablets; Brand: Rothco; Review: This isn't the first problem I've had with Makais. The problem this time regards expiration dates. The product i received expires in under two years. If you have the time and inclination to constantly keep track of items kept in your camping/hiking supplies or BOB then that isn't an issue. For me, I'd rather get the full period of effectiveness when I purchase something and not have to worry about buying the same thing again before I should have to. The tablets are effective and the addition of a floculant is a huge plus since a lot of micro-bugs can hide in particulate and silty water is just plain unpleasant. Speaking of unpleasant, be warned that any chemical will leave an unpalatable taste in the water. It may be a drag, but it isn't as bad as a case of the screaming blind crud, so do what you feel is best. I used to be a little relaxed about purifying my water until i got Giardia and along with it a valuable lesson. Personally I boil. If I can't boil, I filter. If I can't filter, I treat with chemicals. While I'm at it, i also use chemicals in conjunction with my Aquamira Frontier water straw. The straw doesn't filter out bacteria and as a result I won't use it without first treating the water of boiling it. One benefit is that it reduces the foul chemical taste. In defense of Makais, they do stand behind their products and I have never had a problem returning anything that I purchased through them. On the other hand, it is an inconvenience that I'd just as soon not suffer. The two stars are for the expiration date. If I was only grading on effectiveness I'd rate it at 5 stars. No points off for having to filter the water through cotton or a coffee filter etc. nor are there any lost points for the chemical taste. I knew about these in advance so if I have problem that's my bad and not the manufacturer's or the distributors. So ends my review.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Vktech 10 Plates Folding Camping Picnic Cooker Stove Wind Screen Windshield; Brand: Vktech; Review: This screen is great because it will shield a large area from unwanted drafts and winds while heating water or cooking with a portable burner or a small fire. Having the large number of panels makes it easy to adjust according to one's needs. The weight, to some hikers, is objectionable, to me the savings in fuel (if using a portable stove) will make up for some of it and it makes up for the excess by virtue of convenience. For those who insist on items having more than one use, it can double as a signaling mirror.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Survival Technologies UST Micro Sparkwheel; Brand: UST; Review: wonderful idea but a complete failure in the execution. The darn thing is just too small to be relied upon, especially in an emergency. Getting an adequate hold on it is nearly impossible with one hand. I can't imagine the hardship of using it if one's hands were cold, wet, stiff fro overwork or injured. One possible solution may be to find a piece of wood or antler etc and drill a hole just deep enough and of the correct diameter to allow you to slip the sparker into it and then have something large enough to hold onto. Other than that I'm pretty sure that under difficult circumstances it would be either impossible or at least nearly so, to use for it's intended purpose.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: UST 1.0 Aluminum B.A.S.E. Case; Brand: UST; Review: I was a bit leery at first about just how durable this was going to be. To my pleasant surprise it seems to be well constructed of fairly heavy aluminum. The threads are well cut and the 'o'ring makes it water tight. Unfortunately the chamber is about " shy of being able to accept kitchen matches and still close adequately. I won't let that stop me as I just trimmed a quarter inch off them. There is ample room for tinder quick or the homemade equivalent and a small firesteel/ferro-rod. I believe that it is water tight enough hat it could be used for medications if need be. Just as a tip, I have discovered over the years that a thin coat of petroleum jelly on the 'o'ring will keep it from drying out and help to ensure a good watertight seal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Four Seasons Survival Tinder-Quik Fire Tab; Brand: Four Seasons Survival; Review: It's my understanding that Tinder-Quik will burn even when damp. These do not. That leads me to question whether or not the ones I received were Chinese knock-offs or just ancient stock. Otherwise these are no better than untreated wads of cotton bound with thread to make them look special.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Black Berkey Primer; Brand: Berkey; Review: It does what it's supposed to as near as I can tell. I'm only giving it 3 stars though because it just isn't worth what it cost. It seems kind of cheesy and I'm really not sure if it will last for many usages.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grabber Hand Warmers - 10 Pack; Brand: Grabber; Review: These work very well and start to warm almost instantly and my batch last about 9 hours each. I found in the past that if they are stubborn just blow some moist air from your breath onto them and it seems to speed the process. These are good for over two years according to the expiration date on the package. The heat is adequate and should make quite a difference on cold days when outdoors hiking, skiing, fishing etc. They are just the right size for a glove or mitten. The dimensions in case you need them are, 3.5 X 2 X 3/16 approximate.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HotHands Body & Hand Super Warmers - Long Lasting Safe Natural Odorless Air Activated Warmers; Brand: HotHands; Review: These critters get hot enough to warm the coldest hands. I was pleasantly surprised to find out just how warm these things get and will be using them inside my pockets and my surplus arctic mitts. The one I used to test the batch lasted for 13 1/2 hours and generated maximum warmth for all but the last half hour. I believe that it may have lasted for the advertised 18 hours if it was kept in an enclosed space such as a pocket, mitten, boot, etc where the oxygen levels would become depleted and allow for a slower chemical reaction. Of course that would mean less warmth over that period too but being enclosed the warmth would slowly build to a toasty level within a short period of time. As with other hand warmers of this type I have found that if they are stubborn to warm up, blowing warm moist air into the package seems to get the reaction started. As far as being a body warmer I suppose that if you used a couple near your kidneys and under arms it would help warm your blood and so warm your body. I've not tried it but am guessing. The size of the individual warmers is, 4.5 X 3.5 X 3/16 approximate. I hope that helps.....By the way, the expire date on the package is 10/2019 so these are good for several seasons.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lightload Towels The Compact Ultra Soft Multi Use Fabric; Brand: Lightload; Review: I bought these for use in my emergency bag and decided to use one just to ensure that they would do what I expected. These are great. I was pleasantly surprised with how very strong they are and durable. I believe in multi functionality in my kit, in other words things should if possible, have more than one use. These are useful as cleaning cloths, as a dew rag, for washing bodies or dishes and even as an absorbent cover over a sterile wound dressing. They dry out easily and can be used over and over again. They store in a highly compact and convenient container and can easily be stashed almost anywhere whether a pocket, pouch or pack. the price is more than reasonable for what you receive and I am quite satisfied with my purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Evernew Titanium Alcohol Stove Cross Stand; Brand: EVERNEW; Review: Of all the options I looked at this is the one that was the most compact and the lightest. It does just what it is advertised to do, no more, no less. Like all titanium products I did find it pricey but that's the lay of the land and I can accept that. While the cut outs are designed to make this stand even lighter they also help it to shed heat and make it possible to store faster than otherwise. While that isn't a major consideration and in fact is a mere blip on the screen in the scheme of things I appreciate that because I hate to wait around when I'm ready to go, I want to go. That about sums it up. I do want to add the one drawback that I found...You will not be able to use the simmer setting that is available on some Trangia and Trangia look alikes. I have yet to find a work around for that problem. Stil Five Stars is appropriate in my book..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stanley Camp 24oz. Cook Set; Brand: Stanley; Review: I usually take a while to write a review on products because i like to use them before commenting on their value or usefulness. The Stanley cup, or as they call it, Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set, is stainless steel for the main body and contains two heavy plastic cups that hold 10 oz. each. These are heavy enough that they are comfortable to hold even when they have boiling hot water in them. They also appear to be nearly indestructible. The main cup and lid weigh in at 8 oz. while the two smaller cups weigh in at 6 oz. total for a 14 oz. package. The lid has one hole on one side near the lip and directly across from it there are six more holes. These look to be about a 1/16 inch diameter or thereabouts. They are, I assume, for sipping. Directly in the center of the lid id a flat plastic knob that toggles up and stays in that position or lays flat for storage. The handle is a bail type and is made to be like a spring in that if you squeeze it it allows you to either fold it down or bring it into position for drinking or allowing you to put it on or off the heat source at which point it stays in position and is quite sturdy so no worries about its stability. The bail design also keeps the handle cool unless of course its placed directly over the heat. For my first test the temperature of the water was 70 deg. F and the air temp was the same. I used a 12" folding windscreen, a trangia spirit stove, and an 'Evernew Titanium Alcohol Stove Cross Stand' which is a thing of beauty in itself....I added 2 oz. of denatured alcohol to the stove and after it was primed (about one minute) I placed the stainless cup with 20 oz. of water with the lid in place, in the center of the burner. I then wrapped the set up with the windscreen leaving about 2 inches of space all around except for the handle which I allowed to protrude. It took 10 minutes for a light simmer and 11 1/2 minutes for a rolling boil. The total burn time for the stove with 2 oz. of fuel (for those who are interested) was 21 minutes not including the prime (1 min.) or when it began to fade out (about another minute or so). The end result is that I'm happy. It may not be the ideal for ultralight camping/hiking etc but for my purposes which would include tea, soup, bouillion, ramen etc. it is more than adequate. If at 14 oz. total weight it's too heavy then leave the cups at home and do whatever you need to do like drink or eat right out of the cup. I figure that it's adequate for two people to prepare a hot drink or share some noodles. I hope this helps.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ColdPruf Men's Basic Dual Layer Bottom; Brand: ColdPruf; Review: The materials and workmanship are good as is the fit. I'd give these five stars but Long Johns are just something I can't muster up so much enthusiasm for that I can say "I love it". I do like them very much though and they help keep me warm.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BAFX Products - 2 Pack - Anti Shock Hiking / Walking / Trekking Trail Poles - 1 Pair, Black; Brand: ; Review: This is an initial impression after walking with them for two miles in snow and broken terrain. I was concerned at first about the resilience of the snow cups and walking tips. The plastic is somewhat hard even in a warm environment and it's close to 0 deg. F here so I thought that the plastic may crack once exposed to the temps and hard use. As it is, my concerns have thus far been unwarranted and only time, along with further use, will tell. Figuring out the adjustments was a simple affair though I did find it a little tricky at first. I found that for my use an adjustment that brought the height to where I could hold the grips with my arms by my sides and bent at the elbow 90 degrees. I pivoted the poles with my wrists and palms as I walked making a rhythm easy to establish and maintain for my particular gate. Using the carbide tips for icy stretches made walking much safer and being a 'senior citizen', the added security allowed me to feel much more at ease than I otherwise would have. The snow cups are actually too small in diameter to be very effective for the kind of snow I was encountering so that will need a bit more experimentation before I give thumbs up for them. I see that BAFX sells snow discs and I may buy them and see how they work. My first encounter with hiking poles like these instead of the standard walking stick was on the Appalachian trail in Maryland in October of this year. They seemed to be a bit of overkill but the more I thought about it the more sense that it made...if one walking stick is good then two would be better. To cut to the chase, these are very helpful in reducing fatigue and keeping one steady on their feet in all manner of terrain. I could definitely tell that the shock absorbtion was functioning but how helpful that is will likely have to wait for warmer weather in another four months so I can get them out on some harder surfaces. I found too, on further examination, that these poles will adjust to a very good height for setting up a trail tarp and the construction of the grips is such that they will not damage a tarp if used as support poles due to the roundness and smooth texture of the material. All in all this was a purchase that I am very pleased with so far. My only suggestion would be that the grips could be made of a softer material with a bit more cushion to resist having the hand slide on them and create blisters. On the other hand a pair of gloves or mitts would do the same and the grips would probably not wear as much as a softer material would. I'll be using these in several days to assist my old bones in pulling a sled into the woods for a couple of days; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Katadyn Ultra Flow Replacement Cartridge; Brand: Katadyn; Review: It just doesn't last long at all. For about the first five gallons it really flows after that it takes almost eight hours to fill a two gallon container. I'm pretty disappointed especially since now after about twenty gallons the water smells like aquarium water and even has a slight taste of its odor. We use this to filter rain water that we collect at our camp and there is no sediment involved to plug the filter. I suspect that it's purely a matter of algae or other microbes growing on and in the filter.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fiebings Pro Dye; Brand: Fiebing's; Review: While the price is competitive it is still too high for the product. That said it seems to penetrate deeply and not rub off. The color is true to the advertisement on other sites and, of course, gets richer and darker as more applications are put on the leather.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Pear Tree Inn and Country Hotel; City: Worcester Worcestershire England; Review: The board of directors spent Friday to Saturday at this lovely hotel. The meals and service was fabulous and the staff were extremely polite and friendly. As I and a friend could not stop over on the Friday evening, we were welcomed back on Saturday with a hearty breakfast. The peaceful and pleasant surroundings were a delight as I wandered around the gardens.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Cheltenham Central West A40 Hotel; City: Cheltenham Cotswolds England; Review: My wife and I needed a place to stay while I attended hospital. We needed a hotel with a familiar feel, good food and comfort. We chose the Premier Inn as we have used their hotels before. It made our testing few days a bit special.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hogarths Stone Manor; City: Stone Worcestershire England; Review: I didn't stop the night as Mrs was having an op., but I enjoyed the time I had there. The breakfast was good, and staff very helpful and friendly. I found the meeting room a bit chilly, but I usually do find places cold!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Royal Hotel; City: Woolacombe Devon England; Review: My wife and I have been staying at The Royal for over fifteen years. The hospitality is excellent, the food great and tasty, the accommodation is very comfortable. It is within walking distance of one of the best beaches in the world, albeit a long hill climb back for us pensioners. Usually weather is fine and lots of places to visit with entertainment at the Royal nearly every night. Good place to stay at a fair price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mermaid Inn; City: Ipswich Suffolk East Anglia England; Review: Meeting with friends they took us to the mermaid pub. Smokers at the door made me regret visit at first but it got better. Food was plentiful and tasty served by friendly staff. The pub was very full when we visited so on match day it must be busy. I would not recommend it for children but okay with friends.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Ebbw Vale Hotel; City: Ebbw Vale Blaenau Gwent South Wales Wales; Review: My wife and I were in South Wales for her brother’s 60th wedding anniversary and needed somewhere to stay. We were very pleased with the accommodation which was easy to book online. Upon arrival the staff were excellent. The room being very comfortable. We had full English breakfast the next day and were delighted.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Adama Vegan Comfort Cuisine; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: Just took my gluten free, vegetarian, lactose avoiding wife out to her birthday dinner last night and we simply could NOT have had a more perfect meal! The quality of the food was BEYOND anything either of us expected and was simply divine. We both seriously overate because we didn't want to stop tasting this delicious food. Honestly. I would say that Adama is a NO COMPROMISES place where people with restrictive diets can bring their omnivorous loved ones and everyone will be happy. I hope they can do a better job of getting the word out that the entire restaurant is GLUTEN, MEAT AND DAIRY FREE. I know that sounds extreme for someone with few or no dietary restrictions (like me), but there was nothing I dined on that felt "restricted." The onion rings with some type of curried rice flour batter and a garlic ranch dressing sauce were, quite simply, the best onion rings I've ever had. The rice flour tortilla Quesadilla with yams, portabella mushrooms and some type of pretend cheese (tofu, I think) and a delectable salsa on the side was fantastic. Unlike the onion rings, it looked kind of "healthy" and I was not sure I was going to like it. I ended up _begging_ my wife to let me have half of what arrived. The kale salad with some type of cold lentil curry on top and tahini dressing was (again!) one of the best kale salads I've ever had. All 3 of these things were appetizers while 2 hungry adults wolfed them all down, our only disappointment is that we were worried there was no room for entree and dessert! So we split a Picatta "chicken" entree with steamed spinach, garlic mashed potatoes with a crispy covering and some type of fake chicken that tasted... you guessed it... like chicken. There were capers and artichoke hearts and the most delicious gravy. It was simply perfect. We were both seriously full, but we had to taste the gluten/dairy free chocolate cupcake that came with a candle and the Happy Birthday song. It was one of the moistest cupcakes I've ever tasted. I'm not a huge chocolate fan, but this was divine and reminded me of how they used to advertise how moist the Duncan Heine's chocolate cakes were. TV commercial surreal cupcake. Before we left, because it was such a treat to have a case full of gluten free desserts, we bought a carrot cake cupcake and a tiny berry crumble pie of some kind. Haven't tried those yet but they will be dessert tonight! If you have anyone in your life with a gluten-free or dairy restricted or Vegan diet, I would take them to Adama. Whether you have dietary restrictions or not, you'll enjoy accompanying them while they weep with joy about being able to order anything in the restaurant. :-); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lovin Spoonful; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: This place is just fantastic and we folks who live on the Mesa are deeply grateful to have Frozen yogurt. Each time I've been there, the owner, John, has sat down and chatted with me and he's just a real standup guy trying to make a good enough living to live in our fair town. The quality of the yogurt is insane and I think it's the only place in town with ORGANIC frozen yogurt, which makes my wife very happy. My 10 year old boy loves it and we all love it. 5 stars is not enough! Okay, one small quibble that will save you a lot of grief calling your credit card company. For some reason, when you use a credit card to pay for your fro-yo, your monthly bill will say: "Santa Barbara Developm" I've contacted the owner and asked that he fix this, but I wasted almost an hour on the phone with Chase Visa trying to identify these small charges from "Santa Barbara Developm" scattered throughout the year. Anyway, just in case you too were stumped by the completely unrelated name on your CC bill, now you know. Hopefully John will fix this with his merchant bank. There is so much CC fraud these days that it was frustrating to have to waste time with mysterious, but legitimate charges from an otherwise totally awesome place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sojourner Cafe; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: The Soj is our go-to place here in town. While it's hard to imagine how they only have 4 stars, I'm kind of glad as it means we'll get a table there when we need one. Are the perfect? No, of course not. But they have reliably good food, usually good service, and often a restaurant full of people you'd love to spend more time with. Could they have more gluten free options? Sure. Could they have more variety in their vegan offerings? Of course. But when you add it all up, it still amounts to Santa Barbara's top natural food restaurant. Here's another thing to think about. While it's fine to downgrade a multinational chain store or restaurant, please think more carefully the next time you spend time on Yelp giving a local business less than 5 stars. These are people like you and me who live here, pay local taxes, send their kids to school with your kids, attend fundraisers and much more. Remember that Yelp hides the majority of positive reviews for most businesses unless you pay them to advertise. Negative reviews consistently get front page placement and count for the overall rating. All I ask is that you might consider the words of Thumper, "If you can't say anything nice, say nothing at all." The sad fact about reviews is that the content and the extremely happy people usually do not leave them. Sure, there are some notable exceptions, but studies show that only 1 in 50 people who are happy with their plumber, restaurant, or local florist are likely to say so online. Whereas 1 in 3 upset people are likely to use an online review forum to express their rage. Remember that the next time you judge a local business by its online rating. We Americans have grown entitled over time and I think it's a dangerous precedent. We get mad at being unheard when we have a gripe with large institutions. Now, with online review sites, we have unprecedented power to hurt local businesses that put in 50-80 hour work weeks to keep themselves afloat. The next time you're really mad at a local business, try contacting the owner and seeing if you can work something out before you leave an awful review online. They might surprise you. Baring that or leaving no review at all, leave a 4 star review, but express your 1-3 star feelings in the essay below. Santa Barbara (or any town) would be a sad place indeed with only multinational chain stores and restaurants. Support your local business with your online review. :-); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Little Things Bakery; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: Wow! We searched far and wide of a gluten free chocolate cake that would server our 30+ guests at my wife's birthday party. Even Jennnine's couldn't help us, but Wayne Kjar (whose last name I have no idea how to pronounce) was able to help us. It was DIVINE! A total no compromises cake! What a treat! And you're here, on the Mesa. Absolutely fantastic and they should advertise that they do GLUTEN FREE STUFF! Nice job, guys! You'll be our first call the next time around.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Classic Collision Goleta; City: Goleta, CA; Review: It's hard to know where to begin to talk about these guys, but maybe I should start with the only bad thing you may experience if you bring your car to them. If you have a spouse, the day you drive your "new" car home be prepared for the reaction. Suddenly THEIR car will look shabby next to the one that just came from Prestigious and they will be unhappy. If your experience is like ours, at the very least, they will want to bring it in for the amazing cleaning and detail work they do. But seriously, that's the only bad thing about bringing your car here. You might have to budget for more than one car. ;-) My wife's 2 year old Prius got hit about a month or two ago and the person who hit her was very nice and eventually just wrote a check for the cost of the repair. Prior to that, my wife took it to 3 body shops in town, all nice places and got quotes. In all honesty, they were all about the same. The difference with Prestigious, was that she was bowled over by how nice and helpful the entire staff was there. Even though their quote was slightly higher, she wanted to go there to have the work done. I'm thinking, "Well, nice is nice, but what kind of _work_ will they do?" We were not let down. It honestly looked brand new and they even went the extra mile and did some touch ups on places that were not part of the repair. She got rides to and from our home and felt like she'd just met some really great, kind people. The trust factor was very high and the proof was in the pudding. The car looked like it did the day we bought it brand new. As described above, the only downside to this was my 2005 Highlander looked very old and drab next to hers. So I drove by, met the gang and asked what they could do. Jaime walked me through all of the extensive detailing work they'd do and the price was very reasonable. It was hard to wait for the following Monday, but it finally rolled around, I rolled in, I gave them the keys, and Matt gave me a lift back home. The next day, I got the call, picked up my car and drove it home much improved. Just to keep it real here, I realized that there were a few spots, a few places that didn't look quite brand new, so I emailed Jaime and asked if that was just as good as it could get for an older car, or whether they could take another shot at it. He was 100% professional and just said something like, "While that may turn out to be the case, I want you to be 100% happy with our work. How about you bring it in and we'll see if we can get those final stains out of the seats and whatever else you'd like; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miso Hungry; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: I think it's a bit unfair to call this a "Sushi Bar," or even "Japanese food." This very fun place is much more of fusion cafe blending some of my very favorite aspects of California stuff and delicious sea veggies, some fish, and even chicken (I think) in some very cool "Asian Wraps." Maybe that's a better way to refer to them. It takes awhile to figure it all out, but they walk you through everything and one of these wraps for lunch with some of the fun exotic sauces to dip them in (teriyaki, chipotle, wasabi and a ton more) is just divine. They have a fun cold tea bar with all kinds of herbal and green teas and being able to mix my own concoction was perfect. I wish they were closer or nearer to the flow of where I travel in town, but when I remember to drop in, I'm never left hungry and always delighted.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Freeman's Flying Chicken; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: Freeman's Flying Chicken was just AWESOME! it was honestly some of the best roast chicken our family has ever had. Moist, simple and flavorful, just falling off the bone delicious. Yes Vincent M., it's more pricey than if you drive to a supermarket and pick one up that's been sitting there all afternoon in the red lights, but we live in a society that very clearly supports the "you-get-what-you-pay-for" philosophy. The Freeman chicken was huge, plump and didn't have that dried out, left under the lights thing that some grocery stores do. It was qualitatively better than the best grocery store roast chickens I've ever had. We didn't mind paying a bit more than that We had a blast with the sides too. Love the stir fried veggies, salads and sauces and wish we had been able to taste them all. It was fun to be able to dip the chicken in different sauces and experience different cuisines with the same chicken. The owner is supposed to be master chef of some kind (high cuisine, Frenchy restaurant stuff) and in an unusual way, it shows with the simplicity of what he's created here. Best of all, we were just outside of the delivery zone on the Mesa, but they expanded it by a few blocks just to get to us. Having a big, delicious roast chicken and sides delivered to the home was the deal sealer for us. Our family will order again and it's hard to write this review without wondering if they're open today!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Brewhouse; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: This is one of my favorite places to go for surprisingly AWESOME food and amazing martinis. I really did not expect the quality of food and drink, because it just looks like a college bar sort of thing. Part of me does not want to write a glowing review because I don't want it to be any more crowded, but I feel like I owe it to them for so many fine, fine experiences there. The bacon wrapped filet mignon is one of the best I've ever had in my life. The cooks really seem to understand the request for "Rare," and if I'm going to eat steak, it needs to be rare and juicy. They do this beautifully, but I will probably order the next burger I get there "medium rare." ;-) But, even if you just want to go and eat appetizers, they have some of THE most fun and delicious stuff you can hope to stumble upon. Bacon wrapped prawn skewers. [Yes, there is a bacon theme to my ordering...] Jalapeño stuffed poppers with goat cheese and bacon that are mouth watering, droolingly delicious. [Sorry, "drool" is probably not a great word if you're a fancy restaurant reviewer, but honestly, the food is that good] We had Oyster shooters there, homemade Gorgonzola potato chips, and my favorite, So-You-Say-You-Like-Spicy-Food faire?, THE CRUEL PRAWN. The Cruel Prawn deserves it's own paragraph. First of all, I was raised in Texas with very spicy Tex-Mex food. Was eating Jalapeños and salsa from a freakishly early age. I find very few people who like food as hot as I do (they are usually from India, Pakistan or Mexico). The Cruel Prawn was a whole new category for me. First of all, it's very nice to have a Chopin Vodka dirty martini standing by. Some may say that's cheating, but it's the bet top shelf vodka martini I've ever had and they make them beautifully at the Brew House (just wish they'd bring you the shaker they made it from). You could always have a glass of milk standing by too, but where's the fun in that? ;-) The Cruel Prawn is simply a lovely grilled prawn with a brown cruel paste on top made from Ghost Chillies, Habanero peppers, and a couple other ingredients I can't quite recall. There's a lemon there which adds a nice touch if dribbled on top. I would recommend eating it with a knife and fork and really staring with a very small amount of the paste. It's pretty powerful. The first time my friend and I had them, we spent the better part of the following 10 minutes living with some discomfort. The flavor is fantastic, smoky, roasted, and not just hot for hot's sake. But it DOES take some getting used to. Now there is something on the menu called the EXTREME CRUEL PRAWN which I confess, I've yet to try. Maybe next time, but honestly, the "regular" Cruel Prawn is pretty dang hot. The BrewHouse is an unpretentious, fun, relaxed drinking and eating place. If you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brophy Bros - Santa Barbara; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: I'm almost loath to post a review here because it's hard enough to get a seat here at almost any time of the day or night. But Brophy's is definitely our go-to place when it comes to delicious fish and cocktails. Really, the only downside is that they're just too small and you often have to wait close to an hour to get a table. The fresh oyster shooters are off the hook, the martini's are great, and my son loves the clam chowder better than any other place in town. Please don't go there and make it harder for locals to get tables.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yume Sushi Japanese Restaurant; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: Well, we were just there and had a decent time, but nothing to compel me want to return. The service was excellent and we had a very sweet Taiwanese woman who was our server. The atmosphere is kind of odd. I've been to this restaurant when it used to be a vegan place (that went bust) and it has an odd layout that can work if you want to secret your guests away, but not quite the more celebratory nature of a sushi joint. It was oddly noisy too, with no carpeting, so we were unable to have a conversation without being overheard and making a lot of noise in an otherwise quiet place. So it was a little odd in that respect. May benefit from some carpet to deaden some of the sound. The sushi was fairly expensive and small portions. After wine and a lot of decent sushi, the bill for 2 hungry guys was over $140.00. At that price, you kind of want things to be astounding. Anyway, I wish them well. There is easy parking in back and maybe they'll find themselves as time goes by. I think they may need a different, perhaps smaller location.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kendall, Rohde, & Associates; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: I don't even know where to begin. :-) Never in my life have I ever had a dentist like Dr. Jeff Rohde (and Associates). Aside from the obvious fact that he is an outstanding, state-of-the-art dentist and clearly cares, he has managed to put together an entire team of genuinely lovely people who support all of that. The "and Associates" is a very important part of any medical office and Dr Rohde clearly gets that. I have only started going since last summer and have met 7 or 8 different people on his support team, ALL of whom I would be happy to run into at a party. They are warm, engaging, funny, friendly, interesting and professional and somehow, on top of all that, their efficiency kung fu is very strong. You can tell this is a thriving practice when you come in as the phones are often ringing and appointments are being booked. But that's not off putting in the least. Both of the 2 women who work the front desks are still super warm and friendly and it's typical to be checked in within 60 seconds or less. The only reason it would ever take longer is because you might find yourself in a casual conversation with either of them like you would a neighbor over fence. I realize it's odd to rave so much about the support staff, but they truly deserve it. They always make me feel like one of their favorite people out of (I'm sure) hundreds and hundreds of happy patients. The comfy waiting room has fresh, craft coffee always brewed and if that doesn't appeal, there's a Keurig machine there with all of the flavored options. The longest I've ever spent in the waiting room (because I didn't have an appointment and they squeezed me in due to an emergency root canal) was just enough time to have a cuppa and observe these things. But to the heart of the issue: Dr. Jeff Rohde is one of the most pleasant, warm and friendly people I may have ever met in town! I know it sounds over the top to say that, but I'm sure any of his existing patients would agree. It just happens that he's a state of the art dentist who loves his work. Working with anyone in any field who loves what they do is always a treat. By "state of the art," I've seen my dental x-rays appear in (literally) 1-2 seconds on a high res. screen in front of me immediately after taking them. There are big, beautiful flat screens in every examination room. My 12 year old son has had plaque and tartar removed from his teeth with a laser. It's a painless cavity repair device and makes one feel as if the future (as seen in Star Trek) has finally arrived. As we worked to get an implant done for me, I watched 3-D modeling spring up on the screen so we could see exactly what we were doing all 360 degrees. And the fact that they can; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: United Drain & Sewer Service; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: The world we live in, cannot exist without plumbers. Unfortunately, it seems to function, with plenty of bad, mediocre, and inexperienced plumbers who only halfway know what they're doing. And it's often when we call one of those, that we really appreciate a place like United Drain and my new local hero, Nick Shalhoob. I don't really even know where to begin, but my journey began with an over $500 bill to a plumber who spent upwards of 3 hours trying to clear one blocked toilet (yes, just one) in a sewer line with no root obstructions. Just "sludge," as he called it. When he finally cleared that, I asked him to do some maintenance root clearing at the street (even though the sewer was running fine). He attempted that for less than 10 minutes and then quit because he was afraid he was hitting a gas line INSIDE the sewer line (he wasn't). He still billed me for the job even though he didn't do the job. It was just a knee-jerk reaction that I posted on FaceBook the next day about the huge bill and my frustration with being over a barrel with this mediocre plumber. One of my Facebook pals, Rachel Shalhoob said, "Hey we own a plumbing company and would be happy to come out and do a quick assessment." There was no pressure, but the whole job had left me completely uncertain about the possibility that this toilet and the line was going to backup again. Nick came out to the house, was warm, no-nonsense and extremely knowledgeable without being arrogant. He never once said, "I've been in the business for 30 years." The previous plumber had said that 4-5 times as his work on site eventually grew to 4 hours(!) in total. Nick was a gentleman, and was tactful about how he spoke about the other guy's work (he actually knew him). By the end of that conversation, I was able to understand what that guy had done "well enough," and what he could have done differently. Bottom line, I was so impressed with Nick's expertise that I showed him all of the cleanouts in the front of the house and he discovered a clog in one that the previous plumber had missed. In addition, he found that the city back flow stopper was broken. We'd been told shortly after buying the house that we probably needed to replace this to make it easier to snake, but now it was broken. I decided in the moment we needed to do it now. Nick quoted a reasonable range for parts and labor, said we needed to get the line dug up, and then he'd return and repair. It's sounds funny to say this about a sewer line, but watching Nick work measuring, cutting pipe, designing this stretch of our sewer line with maximum accessibility (2 way cleanouts) was like watching a master craftsman. Yeah, I know that sounds over the top, but it was built so cleanly, so well in such a short amount of time that; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All Natural Carpet Cleaning; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: Wow, it's great to locate Jebediah (not "Jeremiah," as one reviewer called him)! We had used The Naturalist for years and didn't realize he'd left this past year to start his own company. Jebediah was the heart and soul of The Naturalist, so we had zero qualms about leaving them behind after realizing that the 2 phone numbers we had for them had changed. When I finally found the new number for The Naturalist, the outgoing message was so badly recorded (like from a cell phone with one bar of service), that I'd never even have left a message if I'd known Jeb had left the company. It was only after not hearing back from anyone there, that I surfed Yelp to see if there was anyone else who could get out here today. And that's when I found All Natural Carpet Cleaning. Went to the website and saw Jebediah! Yay! That's who I wanted to call in the first place. I guess it was just lucky, but Jeb was just finishing a job when I rang and had an opening right away between another job. He was here in 10 minutes. In all fairness, he said that doesn't always happen, but after I'd dumped an entire cup of coffee this morning all over the brand new carpet in my home office, I considered it welcome change of fate indeed. He came, he saw, he conquered. Stain is gone, he checked another area in the house that my wife wanted spot cleaned and left me with a very reasonable bill. Ironically enough, after he was already here and cleaning away, The Naturalist returned my phone call and left a quote that was twice what Jeb charged. Jeb's a good guy with at least a decade of experience and carpet cleaning wisdom, a family man, and a local that has done right by us for 10+ years. I'm really happy for him that he finally has his own company and is continuing to do excellent work without all of the toxic chemicals and cancer causing ingredients. Kudos to Jeb and his 5-Star company. :-); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Santa Barbara Locksmiths; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: It pains me to leave a negative review for a local business that doesn't care to work things out directly. I sure tried. 3 emails were completely ignored, left voicemail, and eventually, they started responding, but it seemed clear that good communication was never in the cards... I called SB Locksmiths from the car to see if they could send someone to look at my home office door lock where the tongue was no longer retracting. They said they could come to the house about 3 hours later and that the "service charge" was $85 plus parts. Sounded fair. The woman on the phone said something about labor being $90/hour after that, but I was certain it wouldn't take more than an hour and probably only 10-15 minutes. The guy (Tony) came, knew his trade and replaced the inner guts of the door lock that had failed. Parts were not expensive. I suggested he might also fix the stripped wood screws holding the plates in with some putty, so that's what he did. All of this was only about 20 minutes I understood I was on the clock for an hour, liked the guy, so suggested he see if he could fix the door return. He was unable to (which was fine). We still had about 30 minutes on the clock, so I asked him to take a look at the other outside door to the same room and see how much life that old knob still had in it. He did and was ambivalent (i.e. "not pushy") about whether it needed to be replaced. However, painters had removed it to paint the door recently, and said it looked pretty old, possibly ready to fail. So I asked Tony if he had a new doorknob assembly and he did! He quoted me $75 for that, which I knew had a natural markup for onsite sales. All of that was fine. There was another $36 in parts I didn't know about (for a rekey and a dead-latch), but I was willing to live with that. He replaced that door handle and everything looked great. Then came the bill. Apparently, SB Locksmiths is not $85/hour, but rather $175/hour! I was shocked and annoyed, but it wasn't Tony's fault. I paid the nearly $300 bill thanking Tony for his time. I scanned the receipt, emailed it with a polite note about not being aware they were $175/hour. 24 hours later, no response, so I emailed again. 48 hours later still no response, emailed again. Later that night, after-hours I finally got an email saying: "Our rate is 85.00 service call--no labor. Hourly labor rate is 90.00 Hr." What? This business is THREE miles from my home! So they charge a misleadingly titled "service" charge which does not include any service other than showing up to the job? And this for a business where 95% of all its work HAS to be in the field? I kept my cool because I wanted to work this out and thought they would too. I suggested I'd never have; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Zip Kleen Dry Cleaners; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: Kim is just so lovely, it's hard to know how to begin. She's been pretty much the only person we've gone to since moving to the Mesa 15 years ago. She's done some great alterations for us and does all of our dry-cleaning. We've always found her rates fair and have tried to patronize her even more with alternations and repairs during the Covid pandemic because virtually no one is wearing anything other than their jammies when they Zoom to work. She is beloved on the Mesa here by so many and we'll never go anywhere else.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Meun Fan Thai Cafe; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: Yelp doesn't allow half stars, or I'd add .5 to my 3-star rating. First of all, Jan & Hollis are nice people who own this poorly named good Thai place. We live within walking distance & mild dyslexia kicked in as I thought it was called "MENU" Fan (for years) before my wife corrected me. It's written in cursive, & also spelled incorrectly ("Meun Fun") with their email list gathering website. "Menu Fan" seemed a dumb name for a decent Thai place. Unfortunately, "Meun" is not much better. I've been to Thailand 4-5 times and have no idea what that anagram for "menu" means. It always fascinates me when local businesses succeed in spite of being poorly named. Someone slept through their Marketing 101 class. The food (the main point, of course!) is good. There are a couple of original dishes we get every time. The Fresh Rolls are delicious. Fresh salad wrapped in rice skins w/a wonderful salad dressing dip. The quality overall is decent. It's not cheap & portions are not large, but it's good. What has disappointed me is their lack of interest in substitution or cooking anything other than exactly what's on the menu. I like almost every vegetable on the planet but can't stand bell peppers. They will omit them from an order, but refuse to add Bok Choi, or broccoli instead. Seems a small gesture to cook what the customer requests. Perhaps the chefs are on autopilot and can't customize orders? I don't believe I should have to pay more for a simple substitution, but that wasn't even an option. After 8-10 years of patronage (including catering), we've easily spent thousands there. It's diminishing not to be able to order exactly what we want. I've had the same problem trying to get a batch of noodles spicy enough. It's comedic. No matter how many "very, very, very spicy" requests, the drunken noodles taste the same. This is probably fine w/folks who like blander, less spicy food, but it's kind of funny how I have to doctor everything once we get it home. When you eat inside the restaurant, they'll bring a hot sauce/fish sauce tray that's great. They've never done this with takeout. While they offer white fish on other dishes, they refuse to add it noodle dishes. The chicken used in noodle dishes tends to be dried-out white chicken, so I wanted fish. [Oddly, the chicken used in satay along w/a delicious peanut sauce is much more moist & flavorful.] It's disappointing Meun is unwilling to make these simple substitutions to make their food more tailored to folks patronizing the place. They refuse even for takeout where the cost of labor is extremely low & most customers (like us) tip without any service at all. We believe in supporting our local businesses and restaurants on the Mesa. There is much to like about Meun. It's just starting to feel like they've lost the desire to create more interesting dishes. Or to co-create based on the orders they're getting over the phone today with customers asking; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ally Detail; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: Sometimes you never know the true measure of a company until something goes wrong. That's the moment when great companies SHINE. That's exactly what Ally Detail did. Ally Detail did both my wife's and my car in our driveway in the summer of 2019. Both cars beyond perfect. My wife's 2012 Prius looked brand new--inside and out--after they left. We did not have it detailed to sell. However, we found ourselves at Toyota a few weeks later thinking about trading it in for a lease. The Toyota guys were floored by how new it looked. They offered the highest trade-in value on Kelley Blue Book. We didn't end up trading it in, but it was a wonderful way to discover how an insanely great, meticulous car detailing service can raise the value of your car. Ally Detail did an equally spectacular job on my 2017 Rav. For weeks I drove it around like a brand new car terrified I would get in a fender bender with my brand new car. Both were done in our driveway with their water (another cool perk) & got whatever their cadillac package was. Completely worth it. Carpets shampooed, every INCH of the interior cleaned & waxed. I'm running out of superlatives... Everyone expects the exterior to look great, but we sit INSIDE the car. That's what we see 95% of the time. The exterior looked perfect too. They did magic things with headlights where the foggy white buildup in the clear plastic casing was made perfectly clear again. The engine too. My wife's 7-year-old engine was surreal! It was like they'd dropped a new engine in there! It had a visible effect on the guys at Toyota who popped the hood. My wife and I agreed to do this every year, but then Covid hit. Our cars mostly sat in the driveway. We barely drove. Didn't seem like it was worth getting them detailed. April 2021 & the world looks different. We're fully vaxed, so it was time to get waxed. I asked my wife to call Tye again at Ally Detail. Maybe do my car for an auspicious birthday I wasn't looking forward to? For some reason, they weren't able to do it in the driveway that day, but that was no problem. They'd pickup and deliver it back to me by 2pm when I needed it. Daniel drove his car over & drove my Rav back to the shop. When he returned the car looked flawless. I've said this too much already, but it looked BRAND NEW. He was going over it with a rag and then said, "Well, I have some bad news." Immediately I worried he was going to say he'd dinged it, but he said something that really made me laugh. "We somehow lost your front passenger floor mat." Still laughing, I said, "What?! How is that possible?!" "We have no idea. It's really odd, but we couldn't find it anywhere. Don't worry, we're ordering a new one from Toyota." "Daniel, that's actually great! It was the most used mat in; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Santa Barbara Locksmiths; City: Santa Barbara, CA; Review: Update: SB Locksmiths got the last laugh on this one. The exact same door handle/lock they fixed a year ago to the tune of nearly $300, just did the very same thing. It's broken, locked shut. Good one, SB Locksmiths. Got me. Dear folks in need of a locksmith, please *do* look around at some of the more highly praised locksmiths here on Yelp. I certainly will. FINAL UPDATE: Just had a surreally delightful experience with Ricky of Carpinteria Lock and Key. Came to the rescue in just a few hours, great communication over texts, was *completely* transparent about the total cost of parts and labor (including tax!), AND was a journeyman professional. He even fixed the return on that office door so it no longer slams loudly. [The Santa Barbara Locksmith guy was unable to fix it.] It's like having a brand new door! So whisper-quiet when it closes, I have to keep checking to make sure it latched! Haha! I will leave a glowing review for Ricky and "Carpinteria Lock and Key," but just wanted to note here that I found someone I will use for life. Check out his Yelp page and you'll see another 46 people who felt the same and gave him a perfect 5-star review. Well deserved, Ricky.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Carpinteria Lock & Key; City: Carpinteria, CA; Review: Ricky and Carpinteria Lock & Key are a 5-star Service business. Apparently, another 46 Yelpers agree with me. Do you know how hard you have to work to have a perfect 5-star review on Yelp? And it's clear Ricky deserves it. I had a pretty awful experience with the last locksmith company I hired here in Santa Barbara and wrote about it here. You can look it up if you wish, but I want to focus on the good. I want to raise up a guy that totally made my day and continues to show high integrity and skill. The lock on my home office door to the garage broke. It broke locked shut. It's the primary door I and my family use to go to and from. A major inconvenience now that it was locked shut. A previous company had repaired it a year ago and now it had done the exact same thing. It was after 9pm on a weeknight when I posted the query for quotes here on Yelp. I was stunned to hear back from Ricky within a half hour! This guy really cares! So we wrote back and forth on Yelp till a little after 10pm and he sent me his cell since the Yelp chat was not allowing me to send him a photo. I sent him the photo he requested, but felt bad it was so late. I waited till the next morning after 9am and texted again to see how soon he could get out to my house in Santa Barbara. He had a busy schedule, but squeezed me in. 3 hours later--at the exact time I was hoping he could come--Ricky was here repairing and replacing it. When he was done with that, he fixed the aforementioned return and made it better than it ever was. When he was done with that, I showed him a bathroom door that never locked properly and he ordered parts for that. It was one of those moments where I reached out to everyone in the house and kept saying, "Are you sure there's nothing else lock-related that needs repair?" Ricky was that good. He's human too, and when he showed up today with the parts for the bathroom door, we realized he had the wrong hardware. But he just said, "Hey, no problem. I'll have it on Monday and return. No charge, of course!" It almost made the whole experience with him better to know that he's not perfect. As I've said in other reviews here, you never know the true measure of a company until something goes wrong. Those are the moments that show you who you're really dealing with. I still felt badly for him having to return a 3rd time and said I'd be fine paying my bill thus far, or even ahead of time for all of his trouble. Ricky just said, "Nope. Not the way we work. Not until the work is done and you're completely happy." WOW. When was the last time you worked with a guy like that on; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Leisure Lake Resort; City: Joliet Illinois; Review: If there was a minus scale for rating, this would be the lowest ranked place in the world. We were here for two weeks for my husband's job. If there was another place close by with full hookups we would have left the day after we got here. However, the only place close by is the casino and they do not have full hookups. Our experience here started at the gate when we first arrived. Evidently there is a man who got his wheaties peed in on a regular basis because that's what met us at the gate. I stopped and he said "how can I help you" I said "we have three vehicles all together" he said "so how can I help you" i said we needed to check in and he punched in a code and told me to "go". Not another word. That was our first of many encounters with the rude man. The campground its self would be nice if they opened all the activity rooms, updated and cleaned the bathrooms (so they wouldn't flood all the time). There are only 5 bathhouse with a shower in at least 3 of them. Notice "a" shower. They must have updated the pool since some of these comments because there's a huge swimming pool that is freezing cold and you can't have food or drinks inside gate. I guess that means they would have to put in another garbage can. The "beach" is a man made pond with a fountain in the middle to circulate the germs so that you think it might me clean. It is gross and I don't understand why anyone would let their children in it. The game room/library/bathroom/two showers/ locked children's room is on the very farthest away part of the park across or around the huge man made pond that you have to buy a permit to fish in. There are two pool tables and an air hockey game. It cost $.50 each game and one of the tables has broken slate under the felt so you can't play on it. There is an exercise room but the door stays locked and from looking in the window there is only 3 machines. The one and only laundry facility has 4 washers and 4 dryers costing $1.25 each. It was 104 degrees outside and the laundry room was about 150. Two windows that don't open and a screen door. No fan no air no nothing. For this to be a dog friendly park it's not really dog friendly. You can't take your dog anywhere and can not let them off leash at all. One morning while no one else was out I let my maltese off his leash and was playing with him and rude man got in his truck and drove to tell me to put him back on leash. I can't stress enough how hateful and smartalec the man was that ran the place, however the two other staff members we met, the blonde girl and Chuck, the maintenance guy were friendly and; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Camp Lakewood Campground RV Park; City: Effingham Illinois; Review: We stopped here on our way home for just one night and we're pleasantly surprised at how clean the facilities were and how nice the campground was. After the last place we were staying for two weeks was so horrible I really enjoyed this place. Wish we had spent the whole time here. Close to everything but far enough tucked away for no noise. They have the cleanest public bathrooms I've ever been in and had music and air freshener at all times with decorations made it feel more homey.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Sapphire Hotel; City: Almaty; Review: First of all, I was traveling with my husband to Almaty and it was very warm all week, average of 30 celcius (86 Farenheit) with no wind. We were all staying at the Grand Sapphire hotel because it was supposed to be a newer hotel with nice facilities. The first day we were put in a single room with a queen size bed that you could not walk around because it was wall to wall furniture. The air in this room had a digital display and it read that it was 25 celcius (77 Farenheit). However, hardly any air blew out of the unit and after we turned the thermostat down to 20 and left for two hours it actually went up to 26 celcius. We changed rooms. We were put in a huge room and actually stayed all night. The next morning we woke up sweating and hardly able to breathe. I went to a local market and bought a floor fan because they didn't have one at the hotel and the air worked exactly the same. One of the interpreters talked with the front desk and they gave us another room that night. The air actually had cool air blowing out of the unit so it was much better. With the fan in front of the air conditioner blowing directly on us we were able to sleep comfortably without covers the rest of the week. When it was cooler at night we opened the windows for better air. The week is finally over. The following pictures of our room are mostly to show you how new it was. The bathroom door handle would not stay on and you could rock a baby to sleep as loose as the entire commode was. The seat was also loose. Don't even get me started on the shower and water..... I think if you are Kazakh and used to no air this will be a very nice place but being American and used to cool air, forget it. There was some great shisha in the outdoor restaurant with cool mist around the roof edges.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Habtoor Grand Resort Autograph Collection; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: We had an absolutely fabulous time. The hotel and staff were great. The infinity pool awesome, the Andreea restaurant with shisha was a-one. We sat there and played cards and smoked shisha 3 of our nights. We were there during Ramadan so things were limited but everyone was very accommodating. The best Italian food in the Italian restaurant on site.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotspring Beach Resort Spa; City: Thai Mueang Phang Nga Province; Review: Do not get me wrong. We really enjoyed our stay here (while we were in our room). We had one of the 10 pool suites. AWESOME. We had our own pool with privacy and an outdoor shower. The reason I'm giving this a 3: The only restaurant for dinner was all the way down at the beach and not much to choose from. What there was wasn't that good and was usually cold. The staff will not call for a taxi because they want you to eat there and there is nothing close enough to walk to. If you want to go anywhere you can take the shuttle twice a day for exactly 1-1/2 hours to the grocery store and small town but there are no restaurants and you have to be back on the shuttle when they leave. The beach is totally deserted, there are two chairs out there but NO Service from any staff. Also, you have to walk through the restaurant, across a pier, down some steps, across another walk way, then across the little area of sand and water to get to the actual beach. Don't plan on spending the day on the beach and getting waited on with little umbrella drinks. The restaurant staff were not attentive at all. They do not understand and speak English well. Your best bet is to point and grunt. There is a bar/restaurant just off the lobby that only serves breakfast buffet (albeit with lots of flying gnats on everything and all it cold), lunch and drinks when you can actually get service. Service is another thing. NO WI-FI IN ANY ROOM! You have to go to the lobby to use Wi-Fi. The mosquitoes will literally have you for dinner before you even get your drinks. They do set out bug spray on each table after dark and if you are sitting in lobby using Wi-Fi, they will bring you a bottle. We found out that they are very stingy with ice even though they have an ice machine! The first day we were there, we ordered a bucket of ice to our room and actually got it. After that we would take the bucket to the bar to have it refilled. Sometimes they would and other times they wanted to charge you for two glasses of ice until I complained to the front desk and they told them to give me ice. I guess it was a pool suite thing because we had to show our room key. By the way, there is only one set of keys and they are on a wooden leaf key ring. Another thing, The pool and 2 hot springs are great! The only problem is that if someone orders food or drinks at the pool or hot spring, there is no where to put your dishes and the staff totally ignores it. We have come out for breakfast and there was still dirty dishes with ants and bugs from the night before still by the pool. There is an ice pool, which is just; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit; City: Bangkok; Review: Stayed here twice. The rooms are great. The round tubs are awesome. There is a beautiful pool and top floor restaurant. The ground floor restaurant advertised a lobster buffet but you were only allowed 2 lobster tails and had to order them. Our 2nd one never showed up and the buffet left a lot to be desired. The roast beef on the buffet was good though.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Nyx Hotel; City: Perpignan Pyrenees Orientales Occitanie; Review: 5 min walk from the train station, 5 min walk into the city centre. Staff are extremely friendly, I stayed there for less than 24 hours and felt like I was at home, certainly would go there again whenever I'm in Perpignan.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City Hotel Ring; City: Budapest Central Hungary; Review: Well the hotel is pretty economic so you get what you pay for I guess. The rooms are very small, and not very clean. The location is exceptionally good, if you're there on business or leisure it's located in one of the busiest streets of budapest and where a lot of dinning places are around you. I didn't have time to explore the city since I was there on strictly business. But for what I paid I'd say it was ok, breakfast wasn't bad and the staff were always trying to be friendly. I can't say if they're friendly or not, but there were always trying to be. Good hotel, serves it's purpose.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Regina; City: Madrid; Review: Alright it's not the best hotel, the employees at the reception are confused, trying to force a high class hotel service, so they seem insecure which might make you feel offended if you can't get the reason why they're doing so. Well the hotel consists of a few number of employees who aren't up to par. Two things distinguish this hotel and gives you an exceptional time in madrid. Location is 5 out of 5, once you're out of the hotel you're at the center of madrid. You are surrounded by a couple of metro stations, the whole area is like a one big shopping area, second hotel rooms are huge. Definitely going there again, but the only thing you'd give them another shot is their location. If it wasnt for their location against their price the output would've been extremely different.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: La Villa Marbella Old Town; City: Marbella Costa del Sol Province of Malaga Andalucia; Review: Would never forget last summer's amazing time at la villa Marbella, the beauty of this town is exceptional. Everything about this place is just amazing. The hotel is very clean and neat although it's just a one star hotel. Rooms are divided along a couple of streets so you're always feeling that you're isolated like you're in your own clean and neat place. If you're going to Marbella, this hotel is in a perfect place, affordable, the staff are great and very friendly, it just helps make Marbella an even better vacation. whenever I'm in Marbella I'll probably be there, thank you for an amazing three days.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zoo Rooms; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: Very nice spot, surrounded by very nice restaurants and nice bars. Just a block away from downtown. Also there are lots of spots where you could have breakfast or coffee around. I can't exactly remember but the closest metro drops you directly at Barceloneta station where you could walk to the beach, and the bus just below the hotel takes you directly to the train station, also the Aerobus which takes you to the airport is around 2 km away.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Darcet; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: Second time in paris this hotel is the right bargain. Place de clichy station is just a block away. Close to the moulin rouge area there are lots of places where you could buy a wonderful breakfast and come back get your coffee and breakfast at the reception. Clean rooms and a friendly reception. There's a supermarket across the street and around the block. And for a small hotel in paris the rooms are HUGE. For what you pay versus what you get in Paris, this hotel definitely wins it, and scores a five you won't regret it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Cat in the Hat; Author: Dr. Seuss; Genres: young-adult, children, poetry, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: The Cat in the Hat is a morbid, rueful, and terrifying book. Don't read this!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Later, at the Bar; Author: Rebecca Barry; Genres: fiction; Review: A wonderful, funny, moving collection. Only one problem: the next-to-last story doesn't fit in with the rest of the book, but that's a tiny quibble. I would read this book again, absolutely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Everyone Poops; Author: Taro Gomi; Genres: non-fiction, children, young-adult, fiction; Review: It's true! everone DOES poop, and this book dares to speak the truth, and celebrate it. SO much better than all the other poop books. Don't read those other ones, just this one!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cloud 8; Author: Grant Bailie; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Fine, funny, odd, and surprsing book from one of America's National Treasures.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In the Garden of the North American Martyrs; Author: Tobias Wolff; Genres: non-fiction, fiction; Review: This is one of, oh, five, let's say five of the best ss collections of all time. If you don't read it, it means that you hate life and hope and music and flowers. So, read this...please.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spirits and Other Stories; Author: Richard Bausch; Genres: fiction; Review: The collected stories is the way to go with Richard Bausch, but this is my favorite collection. These stories are sometimes called bleak, but they're not--he loves his characters, and he understands that trouble is the place we live. Every story here matters and lingers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2); Author: Dan Brown; Genres: history, romance, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Note: This review is based on the first two pages, but I will never get back that precious time I spent while trying to read this awful, awful book.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Night of the Weeping Women; Author: Lawrence Naumoff; Genres: fiction; Review: Funny, odd, touching--I like everything about this book. He also wrote Rootie Kazootie, which is equally strong, and some other books that I don't like quite as much as these two. He's hugely underrated, and probably nice to stray cats.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prozac Nation; Author: Elizabeth Wurtzel; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I turned to drug addiction to ease the pain of reading this me me me me memoir. So, thanks a lot, Elizabeth Wurtzel.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic; Author: Alison Bechdel; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: Sad, funny, perfect--my second favorite graphic novel (Ghost World is first).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Hundred Demons; Author: Lynda Barry; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I love everything about this book and Lynda Barry in general. "The Good Times Are Killing Me" and this book are my favorites, but you can't go wrong (although "Cruddy" is maybe the most depressing book I've ever read--but it's still funny and beautiful because Lynda Barry is a flying genius of soul; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Above the River: The Complete Poems; Author: James Wright; Genres: non-fiction, romance, poetry, fiction; Review: James Wright and Richard Hugo are my favorite poets, so you read poems by them, and then we can start a gang; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Airships; Author: Barry Hannah; Genres: fiction; Review: Amazing, amazing stories. I guess he's not for everyone, but his sentences here (and in his short novel "Ray) are amazing, and if you write, he will make you better.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Novel; Author: George Singleton; Genres: fiction; Review: Don't read this book! Read his other books, but stay away from this one. It's a mess; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Eleven Kinds of Loneliness; Author: Richard Yates; Genres: fiction; Review: An almost perfect collection. Read Blake Bailey's biography on Richard Yates, and then you'll want to read everything Yates wrote (even the lesser works are worth reading, but stay away from the "The Easter Parade" if you're even a little bit suicidal); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Creative Fiction Writers Companion; Author: Fred G. Leebron; Genres: non-fiction; Review: one of my favorite books about writing--a strong mix of stories (the usual stories for the most part) and smart advice and consolations. John Gardner's book on writing is still the best, I think, but I'd include this one alongside John Dufresne's "The Lie That Tells A Truth" and "Rules of Thumb" (edited by Martone and Neville) as nearly essential.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Meaning of Lunch; Author: Dan Leone; Genres: fiction; Review: Odd, funny, dreamlike stories. I've read this book many times. Leone was in a band called "Ed's Redeeming Qualities" and if you like that band name, and I sure do, you will be at home with these stories; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twenty Grand and Other Tales of Love and Money; Author: Rebecca Curtis; Genres: paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: I read this book in two days--and that's rare for me these days--but it's a fantastic collection. Her narrators are baffled and sometimes a little mean, but that tone fits these stories of small town (New Hampshire) life so well. Curtis is funny but there's something heartbroken behind all of it--I was hugely impressed. Read the first page, and you'll want to stay in this world.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The First Hurt: Stories; Author: Rachel Sherman; Genres: fiction; Review: These stories manage that rare feat--they're haunting/haunted and moving, but her style is spare and light. Sherman's people are fucked-up and banged around, sometimes by their own nature and sometimes by life itself--but they want something better, different, more. She is never clever when honest is the better choice, and as a result all these stories feel lived-in and important.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Way or Another; Author: Peter Cameron; Genres: fiction; Review: If you like Salinger, Mary Robison, and Frederick Barthelme, find this book and read it fifteen times, at least.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Peculiar Feeling of Restlessness: Four Chapbooks of Short Short Fiction by Four Women; Author: Amy L. Clark; Genres: fiction; Review: It's such a good book because the voices are so different, but all four writers write these funny, heartbreaking, smart, fast, well-detailed, odd and beautiful stories. I've already read the whole thing twice, and I'm sure I'll read it again. It's fun to read, even when it's breaking your heart. Kudos! Kudos to all!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Last Night at the Lobster; Author: Stewart O'Nan; Genres: non-fiction, fiction; Review: Oh man, this is a good book IF you like realistic fiction and you're not all caught up in "plot." But, in its own small way, it's an amazing book. It's about loss, longing, compromising and it's filled with odd, perfect details, and the dialogue (and the ending) clobbered me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You; Author: Peter Cameron; Genres: young-adult, fiction; Review: Peter Cameron is one of my favorite writers. Let's see: Tobias Wolff, Mary Robison, Ron Carlson, William Maxwell, and Edward P. Jones. And Peter Cameron. i will read this book again, but my initial response is this is absolutely worth reading, but not his best.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Half You Don't Know: Selected Stories; Author: Peter Cameron; Genres: poetry, fiction; Review: Peter Cameron writes dialogue as well as Salinger and Richard Yates. These are amazing stories, and they are fun to read even when they break your heart, which they will do, if you have a heart, and if you don't, that is very sad and I weep for your wretched soul.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Our Story Begins: New and Selected Stories; Author: Tobias Wolff; Genres: fiction; Review: If I could give a book 5000 stars, this would be the one. But, as always, the problem with Collected Stories is the stories that are left out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian; Author: Sherman Alexie; Genres: history, young-adult, comics, children, graphic, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: I have a pretty strong love/hate thing going on with his books, and this one falls in the Love Category. The voice is perfect, the story is deeply felt, and there's more sadness here than anger. I think you should read it, but you have freedom of choice, so, go ahead and read "Lord of the Rings" again if you must...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Max Is Shy; Author: Dominique de Saint Mars; Genres: graphic, comics, children; Review: I haven't actually read this, but you can't go wrong with the title.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Five People You Meet in Heaven; Author: Mitch Albom; Genres: non-fiction, romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: If I met this book in Heaven, I would be very disappointed. And, OK, I only read about fifteen pages, but that was enough. You don't have to eat 130 bowls of shredded wheat to know that you can't stand it. And I actually sort of liked his book about the old guy, and I guess his dog book is probably pretty awesome and all, but, oh man, this book, excruciating... for fifteen pages...but, really, that's a pretty good chunk of this.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Oh Baby: Flash Fictions and Prose Poetry; Author: Kim Chinquee; Genres: children, poetry, fiction; Review: Darkly funny, odd, heartbreaking, (very) short, and perfectly detailed--read Kim Chinquee's work and enter a hundred different worlds with the best kind of tour guide: the kind that doesn't miss what goes on in the shadows of the world. You can read her book in one sitting, and that's good, because you'll want to read it again and again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Descendants; Author: Kaui Hart Hemmings; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Great start, great finish, meandering middle (the road section) Still, I enjoyed this, and I plan to read her book of stories very soon. Brilliant dialogue, throughout the novel, and she combines humor with sadness incredibly well. I was disappointed when the novel slowed down, but I could see the need for it, from a plot standpoint--but plot isn't the major joy of "The Descendants"; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Norwood; Author: Charles Portis; Genres: fiction; Review: The funniest book I've read in, oh, fifteen years. Also, the way Portis writes--so clean, direct, and perfectly chosen, well, everything--is kind of amazing. You should read this book right this second!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lottery and Other Stories; Author: Shirley Jackson; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: You probably know the title story, but the rest of the stories are equally haunting in a more low-key suburban sort of way. Odd people doing odd things, nobody really connecting, but precise (and again, odd) dialogue. I didn't expect this collection to be so fine, but it is, oh, it is!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: We Find Ourselves in Moontown; Author: Jay Gummerman; Genres: fiction; Review: This is maybe hard to find, but worth finding for the title story, and esp. for the first story--funny and sad in equal measures. And, again, masterful dialogue.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The End of Vandalism; Author: Tom Drury; Genres: fiction; Review: Man oh man, this is a wonderful, aimless, hysterical, lulu of a novel. It's not about much of anything--it's about a small town and the people who live there and try (and try) to connect in one way or another. Drury's voice is direct, funny and ironic--but never in a mean, oh look at these rubes--sort of way. These people, and the feel like people, live mostly quiet unremarkable lives, but Drury understands the miracle in the everyday. The ending isn't as strong as everything else, but I've read this book four times now and the only other books that fit that description are Great Gatsby and Nine Stories...so!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Clarks Women's Delsie Bliss Dress Pump; Brand: ; Review: I have had several Clarks shoes (mostly boots and sandals) that I have loved, and sadly these were not nearly as comfortable as I expected. The toebox was narrower than my other Clarks, and even using stretch spray a few times to loosen them didn't get them to a point where I can wear these all day.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cole Haan Women's Air Chelsea Platform Pump; Brand: ; Review: I love Cole Haan's Air Tali shoes and had an old pair of Air Violets that were super comfortable, so I thought these would be a good dressier shoe. However, they do not fit the same. These are much narrower in the toebox. I tried to stretch the toebox using spray shoe stretch, which helped a bit, but these are still not nearly as comfortable as the Air Talis or Violets.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clarks Women's Brier Milan Boot; Brand: ; Review: These shoes are amazing! I wear them almost everyday in the winter with tights, and they are so, so comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: I love love love Air Tali! I have several pairs of these in different colors, and nothing looks cuter with skinny jeans. They are comfortable all day - flats usually hurt my feet, but the heel height on these is perfect - not too high, not too low.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cole Haan Women's Air Tali Lace Wedge Pump; Brand: ; Review: I love love love Air Tali! I have several pairs of these in different colors, and nothing looks cuter with skinny jeans. They are comfortable all day - flats usually hurt my feet, but the heel height on these is perfect - not too high, not too low.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anni Coco Women's Classy Audrey Hepburn 1950s Floral Lace Vintage Swing Dress; Brand: Anni Coco; Review: The measurements listed by the seller are definitely spot-on! I typically wear a 12 in most department store brands, which lines up pretty closely to the XXL. I knew when purchasing that my hips were more slender (closer to a U.S. size 8 or 10) than the measurements, but I bought it on a gamble anyway. The shoulders and bust fit perfectly! Unfortunately, I had to return the dress because of all the extra fabric around the hips. Nonetheless, the dress seemed really well-made. Please note that the collar and cuffs on the dress I received were not pure white but more like a winter white.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: ASICS Women's GEL-Nimbus 17 Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: I got these to replace my beloved and worn out Gel-Nimbus 15s and, so far, they are very comparable to the 15 in fit and comfort.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Peach Couture Vintage Womens Bohemian Design Infinity Loop Scarves; Brand: Peach Couture; Review: Not a sheer scarf like many of the summery infinity scarves, but rather an opaque, slightly thicker fabric. Nonetheless, it isn't too heavy and doesn't have an overwhelming amount of fabric. Plus, the colors are great! Nice and bright. My main annoyance with the scarf is that they attached a "Peach Couture" label to the scarf, but not anywhere near the fabric seam. So, I have to choose between having the seam or the label showing when I wear it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Official Wonder Woman Foil Women's T-Shirt; Brand: TruffleShuffle; Review: So small! I normally wear a size L in shirts/12 in dresses, but got the extra large given the reviews. The extra large in this shirt was still too small! I'm not sure this was actually intended for real adult women with shoulders or bustlines; definitely a "juniors" item, if not a children's item!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: CLARKS Artisan Amelia Page; Brand: ; Review: These are so cute! They fit great out of the box - they aren't too narrow, and they don't seem likely to cause blisters on my toes or across the ball of my foot. Like most Clarks, they are comfy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CLARKS Women's Zia Graze Wedge Sandal; Brand: ; Review: The front leather over the toes covered more of my foot than I expected and hit the middle of my foot in a weird spot. I could tell as soon as I tried them on that they would not be comfortable and would cause lots of blisters! Generally, I love Clarks, but these just weren't right for my feet.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: DC Comics Reversible Wonder Woman Juniors Zip Up Hoody; Brand: DC Comics; Review: I've purchased other DC clothing before and it runs small. Luckily, this hoodie doesn't run as small as the DC brand Wonder Woman T-shirt. I normally wear a L in shirts/12 in dresses, and the extra large was just right. The sweatshirt isn't too short, either, which is very nice - hits my 5'7" frame just right.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clarks Women's Okena Mod Dress Sandal; Brand: ; Review: These are really comfortable and cute! I was worried the straps around the ankles would be too high and irritate my bony ankles, but they were just fine. The leather is nice and soft, and like most Clarks the foot bed is very comfy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clarks Women's Florine Sashae Dress Sandal; Brand: ; Review: I love the look of these sandals, but my flat foot with no arch looked totally ridiculous in these. The cross straps over the instep gapped a good inch or two above my foot. Everything else about these was really great - nice leather, comfortable, etc. - but definitely not for those of use without sizable arches.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clarks Women's Helio Coral Wedge Sandal; Brand: ; Review: These are so amazingly comfortable! The leather is soft, and the foot bed is like wearing tennis shoes. These were not too tight across my toes, which is often a problem with sandals.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cole Haan Women's Cameron Dress Sandal; Brand: ; Review: These are cute and look good for a dressier sandal for work. However, the leather is a little tight across the toes, and I got blisters trying to wear them all day at work. I think the leather will stretch, so I will persevere.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ebuddy Summer Wearing Fashion Women High Waist Vintage Bikini Tankini Set; Brand: ebuddy; Review: I bought this knowing full well it could be a disaster, since the sizing for this is clearly meant for a non-US, petite audience! I'm a pretty standard U.S. size 12 - 38" bust and 30ish" waist. I couldn't decide between the XXL and the XXXL - I went for the 3X due to my bust size. Surprisingly, it is a little big on top and fit pretty darn close to right on the bottoms! The quality seems nice, and I love the orange flower pattern.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Angerella Women Vintage Polka Dot High Waisted Bathing Suits Bikini Set; Brand: Angerella; Review: I was in between whether I should order an XXL or a XXXL, since the sizing on this is so different from U.S. sizing.. I'm a standard U.S. size 12 (38" bust, 30ish" waist), so I decided err on the side of going too large and got the 3X. And, it was too large! The top definitely accommodates a larger chest, and it was a little too big for me to be comfortable. The bottom was also a little large, and I could have made that work if the top hadn't gapped so much. The quality was great; I reordered in a 2X in hopes of getting a better fit. The 2X fit perfectly!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timberland Adventure Seeker Two-Strap Sandal (Toddler/Little Kid); Brand: ; Review: We've bought at least four pairs of these sandals for our kids to wear over the summers. They are perfect for daycare water play - they have an ankle fastener, aren't flip flips, and can withstand time in the water.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rubie's Costume Co DC Superhero Wonder Woman Costume for Kids; Brand: Rubie's; Review: My daughter normally wears a 5 or 6 - we ordered a small, and it fit perfectly. The quality is not great, but it is exactly what you'd expect for a Halloween costume. It looks cute on my daughter, and she wants to wear it all the time! It's a nice alternative to the overly-girly superhero costumes out there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: QGAKAGO Toddler Girl's Zebra Rabbit Cotton Warm Winter Non-Slip Slipper; Brand: QGAKAGO; Review: These are unbelievably cute! The little ears stand up straight when worn! My preschooler absolutely loves these and wears them around constantly. Another review noted they ran big, which seems to be true: my daughter wears a 12.5 in shoes, and the 11-12 fits great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clarks Women's Annadel Eirwyn Wedge Sandal; Brand: ; Review: These shoes were extremely narrow! I have owned and loved many Clark's sandals, but I could barely get my foot inside this sandal. I'm not sure if the gold leather was just less forgiving than the other leathers, or if it is a constant no matter the leather you pick for this shoe. I've owned other Clark's sandals with metallic leather and not encountered this issue. Other than the extreme narrowness, these did seem very high quality like most Clark's.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Franco Sarto Womens Taylor Peep Toe Special Occasion Platform Sandals; Brand: Franco Sarto; Review: I have wide feet across the toes, and these shoes are great for that! My toes were not squished! However, a few things were left to be desired. The footbed is hard, with zero padding. Comparable platform sandals from Clarks are much more comfortable. The other downside are the straps. They are a bit rough on the underside (the leather is stitched onto fabric), and the ankle straps rubbed my admittedly very bony ankles. Prior to breaking in, blisters on the tops of your feet or your ankle are a real danger. I kept them because I liked the look, but I'm not sure they'll be as wear-anywhere-anytime as I had hoped.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Platinum or Gold Plated Sterling Silver Swarovski Zirconia Antique Ring Set; Brand: Amazon Collection; Review: This ring set really is as good as the many enthusiastic reviews claim. I wanted a wedding set I could wear on days when my fingers were a little swollen and my normal set was a bit tight. This set has been perfect - the sizing was right on, and the rings seem well-made. I've also taken to wearing the blingier ring on my right hand occasionally because it is such a pretty ring. The engraving on both rings is quite intricate, and the rings themselves are not heavy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Freya Women's Zen Underwire Balcony Bra; Brand: ; Review: I had tried on a Deco Vibe and really liked how it fit. so I took a gamble and bought this. hoping it fit similarly. It did not! This cup is gives a very pointed shape (think 1950s torpedo bras!) and, if your own shape doesn't lend itself to that, you'll have weird gaps and wrinkling on the cups. Other than that, the bra seemed well-made like other Freyas.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wacoal Women's Embrace Lace Chemise; Brand: ; Review: This chemise is amazing. It is beautiful, sophisticated, and surprisingly supportive. I immediately wanted one in every color. I compromised with myself and bought one more. I wish Wacoal would make more products like this, and if they made this item in a slightly more modest (lined) version, I would wear it as a nightgown every night (and actually buy it in every color that I could get my hands on).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stride Rite Made 2 Play Phibian Sneaker Sandal Water Shoe; Brand: ; Review: These shoes are just miserable. There are so many things to dislike. They are stiff as can be. They are tight. My five-year-old daughter (who does not have wide feet) couldn't get her feet in them on her own because of the stiffness. Once we wrestled them on, they were very tight and rubbed all over. She took about three steps and declared them unwearable. The construction on these is ridiculous - the mesh around heel and to the tongue is sewn in with rough mesh edges all around the inside. That rough-cut fabric would do a number on anyone's feet! The rest of the shoe is, as I said, totally stiff and uncomfortable plastic. These seemed more like torture devices than play shoes. I was worried my daughter might lie about them being comfortable because they were cute - the cuteness could not override the inherent misery these shoes imparted.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Cali Women's Beverlee Smitten Kitten Wedge Sandal; Brand: ; Review: I was looking for a cute and comfortable pair of casual sandals. These were 50% of that! They are very comfortable - the footbed is very cushioned, and the straps didn't seem too stiff or like they would cause blisters. The cuteness factor was pretty minimal, though. The upper strap looks a bit like some sort of medical wrap, and it doesn't help that the strap hits quite high - right at the ankle. Not a keeper.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dansko Women's Debby Dress Sandal; Brand: ; Review: These were my first pair of Danskos, and I was really excited to experience the Dansko comfort that everyone raves about! The footbed is really comfortable, and the heel is great - in terms of comfort and action, it feels more like a wedge than a heel. I have somewhat wide forefeet, and while the front toe strap is just barely wide enough, it's not quite as wide as I would like. I assumed that, after several wears, the front would stretch as it has a leather underside, but it has not stretched at all. So, if it feels tight when you buy it, it will most likely not loosen up after wear!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: White Wedding Lace Parasol Umbrella Victorian Lady Costume Accessory Bridal Party Decoration Photo Props; Brand: Coxeer; Review: I was pleasantly surprised by how pretty this parasol is! I got it to use as part of a costume, and it will work just great. The lace is nicely constructed and does not seem to fragile.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chase and Chloe Kimmy-21 Mary Jane Teardrop Cutout T-Strap Pump Heel; Brand: Chase & Chloe; Review: I bought these for a costume, so I was not looking for high quality and lasting craftsmanship. These are about what I expected for cheap, man-made shoes. They aren't very comfortable out of the box, and surprisingly they run small. I fall right between a 10.5 and an 11 - the 11 here runs a bit short, causing my big toe to hit the end. However, I was able to stretch the toe box of this shoe pretty easily! I wore two pairs of socks and ran a blow dryer on the hot setting pointed at the problem area. I then wore them around until the shoes cooled down. I did this twice and now they fit great - I was able to wear them for about four hours straight with no pain whatsoever! These looked great with my costume, so they ended up being a great purchase.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bbonlinedress Women's Ankle Length Bridal Wedding Petticoats Formal Dress Slips; Brand: Bbonlinedress; Review: I bought this to wear as part of a costume, and it will do the trick just fine! I have a 30 inch waist, and this is, if anything, a little large, but it still stays put. So, if you have a small waist, this may not stay up on you!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: X by Gottex Women's Basic Interlace Back Tank; Brand: X by Gottex; Review: This top is great! The fabric is really nice quality, and it's fitted without being tight. It's also a great length - just to the hips, which is really flattering. It was a little wide in the hips for me, but that's not usual for my body shape.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HEAD Women's The Cycle Tank; Brand: ; Review: I got this shirt for a ridiculously low price, so I wasn't expecting much. Turns out, this is a really nice workout shirt! The fabric is a nice weight, and the shirt's cut is flattering - not boxy but somewhat fitted. I know that some reviewers complained about overly large armholes, but my shirt fit perfectly. I am a size 12 in dresses/large in shirts, and the large fit me just right. I would definitely buy more of these!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: X by Gottex Women's Long Leggings W/Back Mesh; Brand: X by Gottex; Review: I love Gottex workout wear! These leggings are super cute and are made with high-quality fabric. The sheer panels make them especially unique-looking, and they've held up through several washings so far. I got the matching coral top, and I think they look great together.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Via Spiga Women's Wool Coat with Knit Collar; Brand: ; Review: This coat is awesome. I am normally a size 12 in dresses, but I have broad shoulders, so I ordered the coat in a 14. It fit amazingly well. I have gotten so many compliments on how flattering it is! It's form-fitting but not tight, and it is a nice weight for a wool jacket. The wool (well, wool-blend, I'm sure) isn't super soft and cuddly, but I wasn't looking to snuggle with my coat but rather remain reasonably warm. The knit collar, though, is very soft! The zippers and buttons adding just the right amount of interest without cheapening the look of the coat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: b.tempt'd by Wacoal Women's Ciao Bella Balconette Bra; Brand: ; Review: This bra runs small! I happily wear a 36DDD or 34G in Wacoal bras, so I bought the 36DDD. The fit was almost exactly like a 34DD in regular Wacoal bras - the band and cup were undersized. Other than the size issue, it is a very pretty bra, and it's a shame it didn't fit.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rosme Womens Balconette Bra Collection "Annija"; Brand: Rosme; Review: I bought this and another Rosme (I think it was the "Grand). Off the bat, there's seems to be no distinctive difference between the two other than the fabric and trim. Honestly, the Annija is the nicer of the two - softer fabric for sure! I was hopeful this bra would work well with my short roots, but the cups were too tall. As a result, I had gapping and loose fabric near where the cups and straps meet. I liked the amount of lining - enough to provide some modesty without going full-on molded cup. The bra itself kept things in place, but didn't do much else.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rosme Womens Balconette Bra, Collection Grand; Brand: Rosme; Review: I bought this and the Rosme Annija. Off the bat, there's seems to be no distinctive difference between the two models other than the fabric and trim. Honestly, the Annija is the nicer of the two - softer fabric for sure! I was hopeful this bra would work well with my short roots, but the cups were too tall. As a result, I had gapping and loose fabric near where the cups and straps meet. I liked the amount of lining - enough to provide some modesty without going full-on molded cup. The bra itself kept things in place, but didn't do much else.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nine West Women's Flax Dress Pump; Brand: ; Review: If you're like me and looked at the various Nine West black pumps and thought, "what the heck is the difference between these?," I'm here to help. I tried the Flax, the Jackpot, and the Fifth 9X. The Flax is the cheapie of the lot - it's flimsier than the other two, but still comfortable. The Nine West logo is a sewn-in patch in the heel insole, which also hints at its inexpensive construction. The leather seems thinner than the Jackpot and the Fifth 9X, which is good (it will stretch and mold to your foot) and bad (it will wear out quickly). The Jackpot is better made and has a bit thicker leather, and you certainly can't go wrong with it. The real winner is the Fifth 9X. It has a nicer sole than the others (black, with an anti-skid rubbery section on the front sole, while the others have the standard tan soles), and it's leather is higher quality without being stiff. Oh yeah, you're wondering how they fit? They all fit the same.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nine West Women's Flax Dress Pump; Brand: ; Review: If you're like me and looked at the various Nine West black pumps and thought, "what the heck is the difference between these?," I'm here to help. I tried the Flax, the Jackpot, and the Fifth 9X. The Flax is the cheapie of the lot - it's flimsier than the other two, but still comfortable. The Nine West logo is a sewn-in patch in the heel insole, which also hints at its inexpensive construction. The leather seems thinner than the Jackpot and the Fifth 9X, which is good (it will stretch and mold to your foot) and bad (it will wear out quickly). The Jackpot is better made and has a bit thicker leather, and you certainly can't go wrong with it. The real winner is the Fifth 9X. It has a nicer sole than the others (black, with an anti-skid rubbery section on the front sole, while the others have the standard tan soles), and it's leather is higher quality without being stiff. Oh yeah, you're wondering how they fit? They all fit the same.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nine West Women's Jackpot Fabric; Brand: ; Review: If you're like me and looked at the various Nine West black pumps and thought, "what the heck is the difference between these?," I'm here to help. I tried the Flax, the Jackpot, and the Fifth 9X. The Flax is the cheapie of the lot - it's flimsier than the other two, but still comfortable. The Nine West logo is a sewn-in patch in the heel insole, which also hints at its inexpensive construction. The leather seems thinner than the Jackpot and the Fifth 9X, which is good (it will stretch and mold to your foot) and bad (it will wear out quickly). The Jackpot is better made and has a bit thicker leather, and you certainly can't go wrong with it. The real winner is the Fifth 9X. It has a nicer sole than the others (black, with an anti-skid rubbery section on the front sole, while the others have the standard tan soles), and it's leather is higher quality without being stiff. Oh yeah, you're wondering how they fit? They all fit the same.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nina Nataly Ballet Flat (Little Kid/Big Kid); Brand: Nina; Review: These are very nice shoes, especially for children's shoes. However, they fall right off my daughter's feet! She has this problem with all ballet-style flats, and I thought the strap would make these wearable. Nope. The strap is set further toward the toes than typical mary janes, so they are more decorative than functional. What a shame! Otherwise, they fit as expected in terms of length and width,; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dansko Women's Dawson Heeled Sandal; Brand: ; Review: These sandals are AMAZING. It's like wearing summery tennis shoes. They fit perfectly, the straps over the feet are wide enough for my somewhat-wide fee, and the ankle straps don't rub the ankle. As an added bonus, they aren't matronly or ugly!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bow Dream Rustic Bridesmaid Lace Sleeveless Flower Girl Dress; Brand: Bow Dream; Review: My daughter wore this as a flower girl dress, and it was just fantastic! It wasn't itchy (a common complaint with "fancy dresses"!), and she looked just lovely in it. It fit according to the size chart.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Rightline Gear 100B90 Cargo Saddlebag; Brand: Featured Brands (lbr_brands_browse-bin); Review: I was hoping for more When I go camping with my kids I run out of room in my truck to carry all the bedding , pillows blankets and towels This seemed like right idea First it is a good size and fit well behind the car It needed to be mounted below the windshield wiper , It has two straps on top and two on Bottom I loaded it up in the house and while the bag help all I needed it did require help getting it remounted The problem came when I took the bag off , the bar or bag separated so the bar was no longer in the little lops that are suppose to hold the bar There is no adjustment so the bar would not fit back no matter what I did I the trip back was without the bar Overall the bag kept everything dry , but I was left feeling less than thrilled that the bar/ bag did not last one round trip; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thule Sonic Cargo Box; Brand: ; Review: This is the biggest one you can get I easily got 4 pairs of skies into it with room to spare I drive a Yukon Denali and this model perfect The size makes it a little unwieldy to do by yourself Need help to get on and off This connected to my existing cross bars It has a great system that works on 4 screw knobs In each of the knobs is a hole that alows you to attach the tie town strap Works ok by could use a quick disconnect type of tight ing Over all very happy Have used in 4 ski trips and is working great . Driven hour each way with no issues; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Camco No Insect Bumper Cap Small- Vent Holes and Squeeze Grip for Easy Installation and Removal (2 Pack) (40325); Brand: Camco; Review: Nice fit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zinus Deluxe Spring 10 Inch Pillow Top RV / Camper / Trailer / Truck Mattress, Short Queen; Brand: Zinus; Review: Bought this bed for a camper ( short queen ) and was glad I saw the advice about not opening it till it was inside the camper This is a firm mattress with a firm pillow top First night of sleep was great No back issues; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Westin Wade 72-110001 Black Sure-Fit Front Right And Left Molded Floor Mat Set - 1 Pair; Brand: Westin; Review: These seemed good when I got them fit well Over a few weeks they shift easily due to being thin The drive side is moving a lot and has made me almost; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Ip Man The Legend is Born; Brand: Sammo Hung; Review: Thought it was ip man 3 but it's 1. Already have that; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Puppet Master 1; Brand: ; Review: I haven't seen puppet master n a while but was glad 2 C them in 1 case. Now I remember y I ordered them . I'm n luv.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Maiden Heist; Brand: Joseph McKenna; Review: It was so funny. A great movie!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Godzilla: Final Wars; Brand: ; Review: I knw it was used but it won't play when it gets close 2 the end. Disappointed.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pistol Whipped (Aws) [DVD] [2008]; Brand: ; Review: Got it 4 my man & he loves it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Highway; Brand: Lil Duval; Review: My man wanted it He liked it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dragon Blade; Brand: ; Review: I bought it 4 a friend. He liked it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Labyrinth; Brand: Shari Weiser; Review: Good movie; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kingsman: The Secret Service; Brand: ; Review: Luved it; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Meditation for Warriors: Practical Meditation for Cops, Soldiers and Martial Artists; Author: Visit Amazon's Loren W. Christensen Page; Review: Good book with lots of good tips on finding a method that works for you. I will be trying some of these soon!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How To Protect Yourself By Developing A Fighter's Mindset; Author: Visit Amazon's Alain Burrese Page; Review: We all train the physical side of our particular martial art, but very rarely the mental side. This book does a very good job fixing that. Great read with good tips that I will read again and recommend to students and friends. Frank Fedele; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Knife Fighting: A Practical Course; Author: Michael Janich; Review: This book covers the specifics of knife fighting well. Nothing fancy in here, which. Is a good thing. Good practical techmiques.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks (Revised and; Author: Visit Amazon's Alain Burrese Page; Review: Which is a very good thing. Mr. Burrese draws on past experience and his training to lay out information in an easy to follow format which causes the reader to want to do further research in certain topics. I learned something by reading this and others will too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: We're Working Out: A Zen Approach to Everyday Fitness; Author: Visit Amazon's Al Kavadlo Page; Review: Great motivational read on fitness and working out. The philosophy is their, but doesn't cover the message. Motivates you to get out there and do it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Quick Reference Guide: Introduction (Cheat Sheet of Instructions, Tips & Shortcuts - Laminated Card); Author: Visit Amazon's Beezix Inc Page; Review: Easy method to check up on SharePoint basics. Well laid out and easy to find what you need. Use it frequently.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Microsoft Project 2010 Quick Reference Guide: Creating a Basic Project (Cheat Sheet of Instructions, Tips & Shortcuts - Laminated; Author: Visit Amazon's Beezix Inc. Page; Review: Good way to check on Microsoft Project basics. Well laid out and easy to find what you need. I use it frequently.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Combatives for Street Survival; Author: Visit Amazon's Kelly McCann Page; Review: No messing around with any fancy techniques or complicated sequences and routines. Simple, effective and to the point. No more, no less.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Convict Conditioning: How to Bust Free of All Weakness--Using the Lost Secrets of Supreme Survival Strength; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Wade Page; Review: Good book that breaks out key bodyweight exercises and progression steps to improve. Some pieces I could do without, but really good info.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Self Defense Solutions: How To Get Better Results From Your Combatives Training And Improve Your Self Defense; Author: Visit Amazon's Neal Martin Page; Review: This book covers ideas and concepts of conservatives. Not a technique filled how to book, but a book of theory and concepts to help you go to the next level.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Combatives Instruction: Physical Self Defense Teaching And Training Methods For Instructors And Students; Author: Visit Amazon's Neal Martin Page; Review: Well written book with both technique and theory with a healthy dose of both. Gives some good drills also to try out the new techniques.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Art of Asking (Signed Edition): How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help; Author: Visit Amazon's Amanda Palmer Page; Review: A book where the author opens up completely and lets everybody in. She shows you everything and tries to teach you the important lesson of how to ask. I will try to take it all in. Thank you for sharing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zen Mind, Strong Body: How to Cultivate Advanced Calisthenic Strength--Using the Power of "Beginner's Mind"; Author: Visit Amazon's Al Kavadlo Page; Review: Great read that made me think, which to me is the best compliment of all. I will continue to refer back to some of the articles in this book when I need a reminder or to check things. Highly recommended read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Franklin Sports Youth Sliding Shorts; Brand: Franklin Sports; Review: Thank heavens for previous reviews so I knew to order size smaller than usual. They run very big but good price for product.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Busy Buddha ECO-Roller | Deep Tissue Foam Roller; Brand: Busy Buddha; Review: Yes it was perfect. I had tried another brand that my daughter uses to stretch. Hers was too hard and too big but I could tell that rolling on a roller might help my back. This one worked great to stretch neck and back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics Medicine Ball; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: It was same as at local stores just cheaper. Good buy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DigiHero for Garmin Vivofit; Brand: DigiHero; Review: Great looking fun designs. My granddaughter loves changing her Fitbit look.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: REPEL Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent, Pump Spray, 4-Ounce; Brand: Repel; Review: I really liked this repellant. Works well and scent is fresh; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Decaf Diet: Is Caffeine Making You Fat?; Author: Visit Amazon's Eugene Wells Page; Review: A book that made me quit drinking coffee for awhile. The idea that coffee can make you fat is well explored in this book. I also tried a product called Skinny Coffee which claims to make you lose weight by increasing your caffeine intake. The book explained how the increased caffeine also can make you lose weight. Sadly, after trying both decreasing and increasing caffeine, I have not lost any weight. Obviously, both methods do work for some people. The book goes into great detail to explain how caffeine affects you. If you want to know all about caffeine, this is the book for you. It was a little more than I needed to know.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beyond Nostalgia; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Winton Page; Review: I loved this story. It is something that happens to many people, but you seldom hear about it. You could feel the pain.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Voices; Author: Visit Amazon's John Michael Hileman Page; Review: Such an interesting concept. The book held my interest from the beginning. Wouldn't it be great if God would send all of us messages.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Unseen; Author: Visit Amazon's John Michael Hileman Page; Review: Wow....what a great read. It would be nice if all young women could read this. Interesting for all but could be vital for some.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Messages; Author: Visit Amazon's John Michael Hileman Page; Review: An interesting idea that was compelling to read. I liked it so much that I had to buy all the books in the series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Once Upon a Time: A Collection of Classic Fairy Tales; Author: Brothers Grimm; Review: I bought this book so I could refresh my memory about the classic fairy tales. I am watching Once Upon A Time and had forgotten some of the stories. I wished the book followed the TV show more closely, but it did answer some of my questions.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Telling Teddy: (Dear Teddy: A Journal Of A Boy Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's JD Stockholm Page; Review: A sad story that I could not stop reading. I did not realize it was a true story until the end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stupid Boy (Dear Teddy A Journal Of A Boy Book 3) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's JD Stockholm Page; Review: Written from a child's view, the story flowed easily. Sometimes I became tired of how he berated himself, but that is apparently how he felt at the time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Goodbye Teddy (Dear Teddy A Journal Of A Boy Book 4) eBook; Author: JD Stockholm; Review: This series of books kept me reading and reading. How sad that this actually happened to such a sweet boy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Collectibles: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's James J. Kaufman Page; Review: A great story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Torture Man; Author: Visit Amazon's Warren Adler Page; Review: Insightful story of torture tactics used for the greater good. Every time I thought I had the story figured out, I found that I was wrong. Both sides of the torture procedures are explained. Then you wonder how far you would go to save your own daughter. The principals you stand on so proudly may suddenly reverse.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Torture Man; Author: Warren Adler; Review: Insightful story of torture tactics used for the greater good. Every time I thought I had the story figured out, I found that I was wrong. Both sides of the torture procedures are explained. Then you wonder how far you would go to save your own daughter. The principals you stand on so proudly may suddenly reverse.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pokemon Go: The Ultimate Guide; Author: Visit Amazon's Jake Neistat Page; Review: Great help. I now understand more about the game and even learned enough to try a gym. Glad I purchased this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Kyser Quick-Change Capo for banjos, ukuleles, and mandolins - Black; Brand: Kyser; Review: Not all capo's work the greatest but this one works great. It holds on and don't bend the strings. I need two more words so here they are.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Martin Acoustic Guitar Hardware (MSP3200); Brand: Martin; Review: They work great and got here in record time. I have used Martin strings for years and they never let me down. Thanks Martin; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gator Cases Speaker Stand Carry Bag with Dual Compartment and 58" Interior; Holds (2) Stands (GPA-SPKSTDBG-58DLX); Brand: Gator; Review: It work great and got here in record time. I'm glad they to have gotten such a good/strong bag for the money, Thanks Gator; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: String Swing CC01UK-O Hardwood Home & Studio Ukulele/Mandolin Hanger - Oak; Brand: String Swing; Review: It works great and got here in record time. I'm glad they make these for my mandolin. I always get String Swing for my instruments. Thanks String Swing; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Behringer MicroMON MA400 Ultra-Compact Monitor Headphone Amplifier; Brand: Behringer; Review: This has been a good tool to help me play and not wake the family when I practice my music. It has everything that you need to make it private. This is my second monitor I've had, the first one I gave to a friend because he has trouble hearing himself when the band plays. So yes I have had good things to say about them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fender 7250 Nickel-Plated Steel Roundwound Bass Strings; Brand: Fender; Review: They are smooth and do what I want them to do. They keep a good sound and keep in tune. Good string.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On-Stage Classic Single-X Keyboard Stand; Brand: OnStage; Review: I bought it for my granddaughter and she says it's great. I have one and I knew it worked great. Strong enough for what we need.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Musical_Instruments |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hostal Princesa Maria; City: Banos Tungurahua Province; Review: our final leg of the journey and the bestest hostel in the world...it was so pretty and clean! we loved it. it was just far away from the main part of the city that it was quiet. especially since we were there for the four days of carnival! which was fun but chaos. they were very accomadating here and have a no party rule...which we liked. we got sick here and they were very helpful, and helped with lots of things. the owners son was very funny and spoke perfect English. you have to ask to get your room cleaned, but that's not big deal once you know. best value...we cant say enough, plus banos is beautiful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casa Joaquin Boutique Hotel; City: Quito Pichincha Province; Review: we loved this hotel! our flights delayed from winter storms 3 times and they accomadated us every time, and didn't charge us any extra. our flight came in several hours late and the shuttle they had arranged for us was waiting inside for us with a sign. you could get your own cab for a little less, but this was perfect and hassle free for us. we arrived late and the area was pretty sketchy, but we just went right inside and they were waiting, they brought us to our room, we paid a little extra for the bigger room, and i thought it was really cute. the breakfast in the morning was amazing, lots and lots of fresh fruit and juices and eggs. im gluten free and i had a feast. delicious. we didn't speak much Spanish, but we managed to communicate. they got us a cab to catch the bus the next morning, and figured out all of the timings for us. we would stay there again for sure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sundown Beach Hotel; City: Canoa Manabi Province; Review: my husband and I stayed here for a month in January. its located on a strip of beach that runs about 20 miles or so long. its a 20-30 minute walk to canoa along the beach and that's perfect. canoa is really small but its congested with surfers and tourists, so it was a perfect distance for us. we enjoyed the walk and the peace. we took Spanish lessons, and we thought our teacher was great. we tried to extend our stay, but it was fully booked. it was a perfect introduction to Ecuador. we had a second floor balcony beach view, and I think that might be important choice, although the bottom floor beach views seemed nice too. it was totally safe, we probably didn't lock our door, and I walked along the road home alone very late at night, which maybe wasn't safe, but im a scaredy cat and nothing happened. due to several flight delays, we showed up late and they didn't charge us....my husband loves to surf and he ended his Spanish lessons early and they didn't charge us. i really appreciated that. they were so accomadating and helpful, and we had our own privacy, there are people who live there all year, and it was really private. it would be the only hotel i would stay at in this area, it was just so unbelievably amazing. especially the price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hosteria Bella Napoli; City: Puerto Lopez Manabi Province; Review: we really liked our stay here, i know all my reviews are five star but i used trip advisor and did a lot of research, i feel like we got the best of Ecuador. it was super clean, and friendly and safe. the food was absolutely amazing (try the fruit and yogurt...omg the freshest fruit) the restaurant was a little expensive for us, but you definitely get what you pay for. they were great for arranging cabs, and we extended our stay no problem. the rooms were cleaned every day. they set up our trip to isla de la plata and we felt we were charged $5 extra, everywhere else it was $40, so i would recommend that. but it was safe, clean, and great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Evergreen Guest House; City: Jaipur Jaipur District Rajasthan; Review: I was nervous that I wouldn't like this place, but I found the beds comfortable, and it was clean...I think it was 300 rs split between me and my friend. it was a small room with a western style bathroom...it was quiet, and close to lots of things without being super chaotic. there were lots of nice cheap restaurants around, as the one in the hotel was expensive for me, but I was on a pretty tight budget, still cheap compared to Canada... there was a pool and much nicer rooms available with ac...I don't know how they were. for a budget I would definitely grab it... but I was there in 2010. :); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Frenz Hotel; City: Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan; Review: My husband and I spent the night in a very seedy part of town last night. We found this place on an app and quickly booked it. We had to get out of our hotel early this morning and hiked here for 2.5 kms and got here around 9am, we were going to ask to store our bags, but they let us check in!!! 5 hours early. There is a 24 hour doorman and the shower was fantastic...everything is super clean, there's a window!!! A TV with cable and tones of places to get food at cheap prices!! We will definitely try and stay longer. The bed is so comfortable...the shower is amazing...it has a rain shower option and gets super hot. I'm in love!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Diva Guesthouse; City: Nha Trang Khanh Hoa Province; Review: we found this gem walking around after breakfast.... its the nicest hotel we've stayed in, in Vietnam. she showed us a room without a balcony and then upgraded us to a balcony room. 300000 dong...I think the balcony would have been 350000... its luxurious! bed is to die for... immaculate, great location... its very close to the beach and coffee! people say its hard to find but its in the alley on Hong voung (sp?) (the street next to the beach road) when you see the mud bath building walk to the alley across from the far corner of the building. she let us check in early, laundry is only 20000/kilo and takes one day. I met a guy here who lives here for 4 months out of the year and he said we were lucky to get this room as he doesn't see them open up very often. and the WiFi is the best!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Number One Hotel; City: Can Tho Mekong Delta; Review: my husband and I spent 3 nights there and it was really good enough. I wish I could give it 3.5 stars. it was super close to the river, it was safe, it was clean... the internet wasn't great although there were a couple of computers down stairs... the food carts were a few blocks from there, an awesome Thai place we ate at every day. basically have to barter for fruit and veg but could get chicken and rice at food carts for 15000 dong. my sisters husband uses this place all the time as he works in that city sometimes. its not luxury...I think we paid 200 000 dong a night, the higher up you go, the cheaper it is. I think there was one more floor above me at either 160000 or 180000 but probably an even worse internet connection. you could probably get a more spacious room. also I just looked at the website and it looks nothing like that. in usual Asia style the walls were dirty, the bed and bathroom were clean... great budget choice! super safe city and lots of night clubs. my sister used ms.ha to book things for her, not sure how you would find her, but if you see a sign... she's a good tour guide on the river!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I2inn Guest House; City: Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan; Review: Ugh. We arrived late last night and looked around. It was 11pm and I had looked at some shady places. I was so hungry so I told my husband to choose, no bed bus = chosen. We left to grab food and came back. This is when I realized...we'd made a huge mistake. The toilet water was spraying everywhere, we thought the water was left over from cleaning but nope, after you flushed it, it poured out. I literally didn't enter that bathroom. People were up all night. We read the other trip advisor reviews and laughed ourselves tired. Someone decided to make a Skype call outside our door from 12-1am...someone knocked on our door around 4 am yelling a name...like over and over. I was up all night. Zero sleep. My husband tapped me on the shoulder at 6 and said let's get out of here I can't take one more second. There was no TV. The AC did not work. I had my own blankets thankfully. I don't know how anyone could give this place any stars. The area was rally dingy too...and expensive for food. We were regretting our decision to stop in KL..we walked around another corner to find another hotel and it was likemagic! Much more beautiful.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Andari Legian; City: Legian Kuta District Bali; Review: we really liked this place.... we stopped here first from the airport. they went out of their way to help us with everything. we stayed an extra night, left to go to another hotel that was closer to the beach, we didn't like it and came back to the hotel a third night! the Indonesian breakfast was included and so yummy, fresh fruit and coffee too! it was too far for us to the beach for surfing but we'll probably stop here on our way out again. they have a free shuttle to the beach, which is really helpful too. they were just so genuinely nice people.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Seattle Bellevue Kirkland; City: Kirkland Washington; Review: my father in law got us a room here over Christmas... it was so amazing I didn't want to leave! the bed was made of angels and love. we had 2 bathrooms, a separate bedroom. I definitely wouldn't have paid that much for a room but I really enjoyed it! close to the bus stop too for heading into Seattle!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Riviera House; City: Canggu North Kuta Bali; Review: It was so refreshing to meet Trisna after a hectic week in Bali trying to find a perfect location in Bali. We totally trusted him and he was so helpful with anything that we wanted. We stayed in Riviera home which is just down the street from the house and right across the street from an amazing fruit and veggie market. It was out of the hustle and bustle of Bali so no need for bartering, just great prices. My husband surfed at the three beaches that were close by, they weren't crowded, and easily accessible by moto, which we rented from RH for an awesome deal. The house was cleaned pretty much every day, it was awesome, we will definitely go back to Bali and stay here again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Cisco-Linksys WRT610N Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router; Brand: Linksys; Review: UPDATE: I have owned this product for a while now and have experienced many of the problems mentioned in many reviews here but after the most recent firmware update I was very impressed with this product. The Media Server works really well with no need for constant reboots. The 5Mhz connection does not drop anymore. The setup using Linksys Advisor is very easy but is not as complete as the web interface. The web interface is not complicated at all since they all have a help link to explain available options. I decided to give it a try. I have tested most of its features and I am overall veri satisfied with this product. Pros: - USB connection to hard disk. Speed is good. - Web interface works fine. Simple web interface. No need for a user manual. - FTP server to access data through the internet. Cons: - Media Server feature is a great when it works. I found it unstable. It uses a version of Twonky media. I believe it will be fixed in the next firmware release. Most of the problems were solved by power cycling the router and rebooting the media client. - I use 2 NTFS partitions of 500M each. Creating folders through the web interface can cause few problems. These problems were easily fixed by plugging the hard disk to my windows vista laptop. - Ther user manual is useless. So I say it is a great product with a lot of potential. I recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Philips NP2900/37 WiFi Internet Radio Network Music Player with Rhapsody (Black) (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Philips; Review: First of all I am very impressed with this device. The overall look is amazing, the sound quality is perfect. I bought this device to use with my wrt610n linksys router since it has a built-in media server and a usb connection for an external hard drive. In my opinion it doesn't make sense to buy such a device if you'll have to keep a computer turned on all the time. With my current set up I keep all my songs in the hard disk attached to the router.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ORICO Aluminum 7 Port Super Speed USB3.0 Hub with 24W(12V/2A) Power Adapter and; Brand: ORICO; Review: It works as expected and the build quality is very good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Logitech M570 Wireless Trackball Mouse – Ergonomic Design with Sculpted Right-hand Shape, Compatible with Apple Mac and Microsoft Windows; Brand: Logitech; Review: I use this mouse with my macboogkpro and the experience is always frustrating. The mouse pointer gets stuck for no reason for a few seconds quite often. I do not recomment it. I replaced it with a kensington wired trackball and I am having 0 issues.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Garmin Forerunner 235, GPS Running Watch, Black/Red; Brand: Garmin; Review: When it works it is great. I have had several issues in the past few months. The watch loses its settings constantly especially after updates. Every week I have to deal with syncing issues, wrong time and forgotten settings. Garmin you guys should focus on bug fixing. The device is plagued with bugs.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: S.W.A.T. (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Collateral Damage (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Patch Adams (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Paycheck (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seabiscuit (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Tommy Boy (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Empire Records: Remix! Special Fan Edition (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hunt for Red October (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act (1992); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: High Crimes (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Billy Madison (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fast and the Furious (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator: Extended Edition (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Interview with the Vampire (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (1974); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Midway (1976); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandler (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Las Vegas: Season 2 (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: We Were Soldiers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swordfish (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Boondock Saints (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coyote Ugly (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The General's Daughter (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Memphis Belle (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tomb Raider (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Black Sheep (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brian's Song (1971); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Something the Lord Made (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Singer (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tombstone (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lost: Season 1 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kung Fu Hustle (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sin City (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Legend of Drunken Master (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Akira (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Transporter (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last of the Mohicans (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Enter the Dragon: Special Edition (1973); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American History X (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Full Metal Jacket (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Unleashed (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lords of Dogtown (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Land of the Dead (2005); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Audition (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nip/Tuck: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crash (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Extended Edition (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Extended Edition (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Lindos White Hotel and Suites; City: Vlycha Lindos Rhodes Dodecanese South Aegean; Review: Like other reviewers, we had a super room in the new block but the cleanliness did leave something to be desired. The food in the restaurant was average, just felt like everything is done on the cheap. The cocktails and local spirits are pretty grim so we had to buy our own and drink on our balcony which defeated the object of all inclusive. We had hoped for a peaceful spot but there is constant loud music thumping out at the top bar which was really annoying. I did ask for it to be turned down which they did for a while but it soon crept back up. Apart from the rooms, this is not a 4 star hotel in our opinion. Lindos town is just beautiful and would strongly recommend an early start to climb the 300 steps up to the Acropolis before the heat and the crowds. Then recover with a drink in one of the many lovely roof-top terraces. Rhodes town is also stunning - we loved it so much we went in the daytime and then again at night when there is a different atmosphere in the old medieval streets. We hired a car and spent a beautiful day on the lovely quiet sandy beach at Glystra about 10 minutes drive. Well worth a trip and the cost of sunbed and brolly just 4 Euros for the day.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stone House Hotel; City: Hawes Yorkshire Dales National Park North Yorkshire England; Review: My husband and I wanted somewhere really special to celebrate our Silver Wedding anniversary and the Stone House Hotel delivered 110%. This has to be one of the best hotels we have stayed in the UK. Our room had the most stunning view, the room itself was lovely, the staff were friendly and provided just the right level of service without being overly attentive. The lounges and bar area are so welcoming and comfortable and there is a great walk through stunning countryside right from the front door. And they even provided us with a bottle of Prosecco to mark our anniversary. We will definitely be back without waiting for another special event; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Appia Hotel Residences Prague; City: Prague Bohemia; Review: Not too much more to add to support everything everyone has said about this excellent hotel. But for those who like me may be put off by comments about the hill back up to the hotel, there is a bus that goes ftom the square up the hill and will drop you off 2 minutes away! A great relief after a day's foot slogging. We also made great use of the excellent tram system to get around. My other top tip is the Prague Food Tour. It's not cheap but gives you a fantastic insight into all things food, drink and Czech culture over a very pleasant 5 hours with Leona. Proved value for money.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TUI SENSIMAR Kalamota Island Resort; City: Kolocep Island Dubrovnik Neretva County Dalmatia; Review: First thing to say is how brilliant the staff are here. Utterly professional, polite and helpful throughout our two week stay. And a very high standard of attention to detail. We had no problems eating whenever we wanted to at a la carte restaurants but Culinarium is best for food. Few things that prevent this being a great resort: firstly, the beach is not private and so you will be subjected to screaming kids - not great for a relaxing day. Secondly, both the Mojito Bar and Four Elements bar can get really noisy late into night - again, not too relaxing. Would highly recommend the VIP Montegro trip (no pick ups and shorter time at border ) and wine tasting although 2.5 hours to start was a pain but great once it got going. Overall very enjoyable stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shakespeare Hotel; City: Vilnius Vilnius County; Review: Can't fault this hotel. Bang in the heart of Vilnus. Wonderful atmosphere. Cosy but spacious room...We had Churchill. Great staff. One criticism would be inflated bar prices but you don't have to drink here, there are lots of cosy bars nearby; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel de L Europe By HappyCulture; City: Strasbourg Bas Rhin Grand Est; Review: On arrival we were checked into the tiniest room ever on the third floor. We asked for a bigger room and we were given a delightful room in the old part of the hotel on the top floor at the same rate. Fabulous service. All the staff were utterly charming and the location couldn't be better. We had breakfast in 3 different local cafés, all lovely. I would definitely stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Adora Hotel; City: Ljubljana Upper Carniola Region; Review: The young staff here were all exceptional. They even arranged for us to have breakfast half an hour early as we had an early flight. It's a lovely little hotel perfectly placed for the old town and great restaurants - we would recommend Juliya's and Marley and Me. Our top floor room was comfortable, warm, very clean and really quiet. Great few days in a lovely, friendly city with time for a trip out to Bled.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Arcadion Hotel; City: Corfu Ionian Islands; Review: We enjoyed our one night stay here very much mainly due to its amazing location and our top floor room with balcony overlooking the Liston and old fort. Loved sitting out in the cooler nightime air watching the world go by. Great to have a fridge too. Don't be put off by it being over McDonald's! Parking available for €3 across the road and we also found free parking on the side of the road.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gostilna Lectar; City: Radovljica Upper Carniola Region; Review: Great find in a fairy tale town! Such a quirky place with fabulous welcome from the owner. The terrace is lovely for drinks and dinner and parking was just a 5 minute walk. This is a great stop if you want to visit Lake Bled but also have a real Slovenian experience .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Corona d Oro 1890; City: Bologna Province of Bologna Emilia Romagna; Review: We had an exceptional welcome from Simone and his colleagues and prompt help getting our car parked in the hotel's own secure garage. Fabulous location close to all of Bologna's many foodie delights. High quality feel throughout the hotel and a wonderful breakfast spread. Top quality all round!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Colon Guanahani Adrian Hoteles; City: Costa Adeje Adeje Tenerife Canary Islands; Review: This is a lovely hotel which is blissfully peaceful and child free. There's a beautiful terrace for breakfast and good cocktails and it's very clean. It was nice to get a kettle but there was no coffee and the supplies were never replaced so not much use really. (They may have come with the mini bar lady but if you weren't in your room when she came you missed out. ) There are lots of sunbeds but they do get reserved no matter what the hotel policy says and we never saw towels removed even after many hours. All the staff are pleasant but if you want 5* service go to the other Adrian hotel Jardines de Nivaria across the road where the service is definitely a step up. We had drinks and a meal there on 3 nights. Costa Adeje was a massive dissapointment. Just a sprawl of bars and restaurants with nowhere having any sense of character or local cuisine. All a bit grim. We caught the bus to Secrets Tasca tapas bar where we got some great food and sangria albeit in a shopping centre but the food and friendly service were excellent. Thankfully we had a car for 3 days to escape. Had an incredible drive through the volcanic landscape of Teide national park to La Laguna. A second great trip to La Oratava which really does have character. Our third day we went to Mascas which requires nerves of steel on the narrow hair bends but definitely worth it for the view!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Arcadia Boutique Hotel; City: Bratislava Bratislava Region; Review: We loved this hotel. Our room was extremely spacious and lovely and warm. It's ideally placed for the centre of town yet still very quiet. Breakfast could have been more extensive but what was there was good. All the staff were friendly and helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Cowboy Bebop; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Space; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no Tobira; Genres: Action, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Space; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Naruto; Genres: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: School Rumble; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Shounen; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Neon Genesis Evangelion; Genres: Action, Dementia, Drama, Mecha, Psychological, Sci-Fi; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth; Genres: Drama, Mecha, Psychological, Sci-Fi; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion; Genres: Dementia, Drama, Mecha, Psychological, Sci-Fi; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Akira; Genres: Action, Adventure, Horror, Military, Sci-Fi, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: .hack//Sign; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Magic, Mystery, Sci-Fi; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Chobits; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Ecchi, Romance, Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Azumanga Daioh; Genres: Comedy, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Mononoke Hime; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Tenjou Tenge; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Martial Arts, School, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 3.0/10.0
Title: Love Hina; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, Shounen, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Love Hina Again; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Ecchi, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Love Hina Christmas Special: Silent Eve; Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Love Hina Haru Special: Kimi Sakura Chiru Nakare!!; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Romance; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi; Genres: Adventure, Drama, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Samurai Champloo; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Historical, Samurai, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Dragon Ball; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: FLCL; Genres: Action, Comedy, Dementia, Mecha, Parody, Sci-Fi; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: InuYasha; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Grenadier: Hohoemi no Senshi; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi, Shounen; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: A Kite; Genres: Action, Drama, Hentai, Police; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Planetes; Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Seinen, Space; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Shakugan no Shana; Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, School, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Fate/stay night; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Supernatural; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Gantz; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Supernatural; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Spriggan; Genres: Adventure, Military, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Howl no Ugoku Shiro; Genres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: InuYasha: Guren no Houraijima; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Demons, Drama, Historical, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: InuYasha: Kagami no Naka no Mugenjo; Genres: Adventure, Demons, Drama, Fantasy, Historical, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: InuYasha: Tenka Hadou no Ken; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Demons, Drama, Fantasy, Historical, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: InuYasha: Toki wo Koeru Omoi; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Demons, Drama, Fantasy, Historical, Romance, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Damekko Doubutsu; Genres: Comedy; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Majo no Takkyuubin; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, Romance; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Tenkuu no Shiro Laputa; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Digimon Adventure; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Kids; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: DNA²; Genres: Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Steamboy; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Historical, Military, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Battle Programmer Shirase; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Chobits: Chibits; Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Pale Cocoon; Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Dragon Ball Z; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Sexfriend; Genres: Hentai; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: School Rumble Ni Gakki; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu; Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Parody, School, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Air Gear; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Megami Kouhosei; Genres: Action, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi, Space; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Love Hina: Motoko no Sentaku, Koi ka Ken... "Naku na"; Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko; Genres: Kids; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Zero no Tsukaima; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, Romance, School; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Saber Marionette R; Genres: Action, Comedy, Harem, Mecha, Sci-Fi; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Tokio Kidou Police; Genres: Comedy, Hentai, Parody, Romance; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Lupin III; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Ai Shimai: Futari no Kajitsu; Genres: Hentai; Rating: 4.0/10.0
Title: Brave Story; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Kids, Magic, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Byousoku 5 Centimeter; Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Clannad Movie; Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, School; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Little Monica Monogatari; Genres: Hentai; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Zero no Tsukaima: Futatsuki no Kishi; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, Romance, School; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Lucky☆Star; Genres: Comedy, Parody, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hayate no Gotoku!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Harem, Parody, Romance; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Clannad; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Sei Juushi Bismarck; Genres: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi, Space; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hatsu Inu The Animation; Genres: Hentai; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Gake no Ue no Ponyo; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Rosario to Vampire; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Romance, School, Shounen, Vampire; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Ganbare! Kickers; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Love Hina Final Selection; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Kanokon; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School, Shounen, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Zero no Tsukaima: Princesses no Rondo; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, Romance, School; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo; Genres: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Air Gear Special; Genres: Shounen, Sports; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Chi's Sweet Home; Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Clannad: Mou Hitotsu no Sekai, Tomoyo-hen; Genres: Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Sekirei; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Super Power; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Clannad: After Story; Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hayate no Gotoku!!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Harem, Parody, Romance; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Rosario to Vampire Capu2; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Romance, School, Vampire; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Toradora!; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: ChäoS;HEAd; Genres: Harem, Mystery, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Supernatural; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Bakemonogatari; Genres: Mystery, Romance, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Mega Man; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Higashi no Eden; Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: K-On!; Genres: Comedy, Music, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Summer Wars; Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Tayutama: Kiss on My Deity; Genres: Harem, Romance, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Chi's Sweet Home: Atarashii Ouchi; Genres: Comedy, Kids, Slice of Life; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Kimi ni Todoke; Genres: Romance, School, Shoujo, Slice of Life; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Angel Beats!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, School, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakama-tachi; Genres: Comedy, Parody, Romance; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: B Gata H Kei; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Romance, School, Seinen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hidan no Aria; Genres: Action, Comedy, Romance, School; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai; Genres: Comedy, Seinen, Slice of Life; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Hanasaku Iroha; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Seinen, Slice of Life; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Yumekui Merry; Genres: Action, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 3.0/10.0
Title: Oniichan no Koto nanka Zenzen Suki ja Nai n da kara ne!!; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Kimi ni Todoke 2nd Season; Genres: Romance, School, Shoujo, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hoshi wo Ou Kodomo; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai II; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Dog Days; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Guilty Crown; Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Inu x Boku SS; Genres: Comedy, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Another; Genres: Horror, Mystery, School, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Ano Natsu de Matteru; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: High School DxD; Genres: Comedy, Demons, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Sword Art Online; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Romance; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Accel World; Genres: Action, Game, Romance, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Haiyore! Nyaruko-san; Genres: Comedy, Parody, Sci-Fi; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki; Genres: Fantasy, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Dakara Boku wa, H ga Dekinai.; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Romance, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Kono Naka ni Hitori, Imouto ga Iru!; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Mystery, Romance, School, Seinen; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Robotics;Notes; Genres: Drama, Mystery, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai.; Genres: Comedy, Seinen, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru.; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko.; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, School, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou Desu yo?; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: High School DxD New; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Hataraku Maou-sama!; Genres: Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi; Genres: Fantasy, Mystery; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Log Horizon; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Golden Time; Genres: Comedy, Romance, Seinen; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Yuusha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shuushoku wo Ketsui Shimashita.; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Ore no Nounai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Love Comedy wo Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Outbreak Company; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Harem, Parody; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Mikakunin de Shinkoukei; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Sword Art Online II; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Romance; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Akame ga Kill!; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Log Horizon 2nd Season; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: High School DxD BorN; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Ansatsu Kyoushitsu (TV); Genres: Action, Comedy, School, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Absolute Duo; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School, Supernatural; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Nisekoi:; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, School, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Shokugeki no Souma; Genres: Ecchi, School, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Overlord; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Magic, Supernatural; Rating: 6.0/10.0 | anime |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Wicked Spoon; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I came for lunch and food is good and service too. Before was much better. But still ok for 28$; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: WOW - The Vegas Spectacular; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: After seeing many of Vegas shows we decided to try WOW at the Rio. That's a good show for the price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cabo Wabo Cantina; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: I have been to Cabo Wabo a couple times and I had a good experiences. Good mexican food , music,outdoor seating.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Anna Karenin; Author: Visit Amazon's Leo Tolstoy Page; Review: I gave this book five stars simply because it is the best book that I have ever read till date. It is a simple love story. The main plot involves a beautiful married woman (Anna) who fell in love with a military man (Vronsky). She was driven by passion, which led her to elope with him, abandoning her husband and son. She bore a child for Vronsky. However, she could not marry Vronsky because she refused to get a divorce from her husband (Alexie Karenin). She refused the divorce because according to Russian law, she would have to forfeit her son. Meanwhile Vronsky wouldnt endure bearing children with a married woman because according to Russian law, his children would be the children of her husband. Anna became caught up in a legal conundrum. Worst still, Vronsky fell out of love with her. Desperate to end this conundrum, she jumped into a moving train and ended her life. There are many other sub-plots, which brought an entire world of ideas alive in the book. One of the reasons why I think that this is the best book I have ever read is stated below: Strength of the characters: The book Anna Karenina from a superficial perspective is merely a love story that will intrigue the weakest of mind. But the depth of the characters will also intrigue the brightest philosophers. I find the most fundamental characters in the book to be that of Alexie Karenin and Konstantin Levin. The depth of Alexies forgiveness makes the book what it is. Even after his wife confessed to having extra marital affair, he willingly forgave her and gave her the option of remaining in his house as wife. In the bible, Christ taught that the only justifiable reason for divorce is unfaithfulness. Yet, Karenin went to the extreme; the height of compassion. Levin character was another strong one; an autobiographical character of Tolstoy himself. At first he appeared as a thorough bred nihilist. A search for the meaning of life led him to self realization. He evolved from an atheist to a believer. Through Tostoy, Levin espoused on his ideas of Christian anarchism; a life tilling the soil, a life of service to humanity, is a life worth living.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bird of Paradise Drums Beating; Author: Visit Amazon's Penny Ross Page; Review: This book bears some similarities to the work of Marrie Corelli. Since I am a fan of Corelli, I found it easy to connect with the plot, only at the beginning. The pages evolve with suspense, which made me want to turn over to the next. The opening Chapter was about Brittanys encounter with a mysterious bird on her way to class. Then the focus shifted to her parents, Amy and Andy. Amy yet again encountered the same mysterious bird, which had something to do with a mysterious character, Kara. The secret of the mysteries took me beyond Chapter five, when Amy and Kara became acquaintances. Karas way of evading questions about herself, her death, added to my curiosity. At this stage, my interest in the book was not just about the suspense but also the use of subtle metaphors, about the beauty of the writing style. In Chapter six, the plot began to come alive with Karas talk of life, nature and consciousness. Karas story delves into the core of religious metaphysics, reincarnation. Going further, the author injected some discussions into the plot, which is centered around race relations in North America. The only criticism I have about this book is the same sentiments I have always expressed about Corellis work; few characters and too lengthy discussions which gives an impression that the author is being too assertive. At one time, I was asking myself if the subject of reincarnation and the suspense at the beginning of the book were a means to introduce the reader into the subject of Aboriginal history of Canada.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Small Change, Big Gains: Reflections of an Energy Entrepreneur; Author: Visit Amazon's Thomas Stoner Page; Review: Thomas Stoners book Small Change Big Gains is an in-depth analysis of the challenges of climate change facing our world. The book is written by a professional who has invested his entire career into the search for cleaner energy mix. This is one of the most exhaustive books on the subject I have yet come across in any contemporary literature. The book comes at a time when there is a movement that is gradually evolving in our midst. This movement is based on the idea that climate change is a lie. I recently attended the biggest church in Sandton, South Africa, where the preacher spent over 2 hours of two Sunday services preaching that Climate Change is a false claim. The title of his sermon is Do not worship the Environment. The two services were the last I ever attended in the churchthat is another story. In the book, Small Change Big Gains, the author dealt with the subject of climate change from a holistic perspective; economic, historical, science and technology. From the economic perspective, Thomas drew inspiration from the theoretical depth of his knowledge and experience in Capitalist market to make a case for his pet project, Project Butterfly. The long and short of the ideology behind the Project Butterfly is the formulation of a business model to invigorate the human factor by appealing to market sentiments. From the historical perspective, Thomas, exhaustively analyzed the historical context of our journey through decades of the debate on global warming. He created a logical and historical link from the great depression, World War 2, Cold War, the collapse of Soviet Russia, war on terrorism, the Kyoto Protocol to the politics that successive Presidents of the United States of America (after Ronald Regan) played around the subject. From the perspective of Science and Technology, he exhaustively explained how GHG emission affects our climate. He presented data to show how the burning of fossil fuel contributes to the concentration of GHG and the consequences of erosion, fire, flood etc. He dealt with the subject of clean energy mix; nuclear technology etc. Do I accept everything Thomas says in the book? The answer is no. What are my criticisms? Climate change is a consequence of capitalism, a perversion of the psyche of the human race. My sentiment against this book is exactly the same as what I have against Capitalism. Capitalism thingifies the human race, thereby living no room for the conscience, human emotions, freewill etc. In Capitalism, there is always an invisible hand to solve all our problems. Thomas Project Butterfly is a child of the invisible hand syndrome. He places the solution to our problem in the hands of the market (and to a minimal extent, international regulation). What happens to individual contribution to GHG? What happens to the burning of incense in the church, waste of energy in our homes, and our collective carelessness in contributing to the problem? Negotiating a business case for private enterprises and proposing an international regulatory accord to guide the business case through its implementation, is a good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thinking, Fast and Slow; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel Kahneman Page; Review: Daniel Kahnemans Think Fast and Slow proves that Humans are not well described by the rational agent model. Our decisions are prone to errors most of the time. This book is a must for every votary of truth. Kahneman proves his theory by using three psychological concepts; System 1 and System 2; Econs and Humans; Experiencing self and Remembering Self. The last two psychological concepts are derived from the first, System 1 and System 2. He presents more than enough extensive experiments on these three distinctions to convince his readers. I will review these distinctions one after the other. System 1 and System 2 are two fictitious characters of thoughts he assumed to be inherent in every human being. System 1 is fast, intuitive, alert, prone to errors, fast, automatic, metaphorical, impressionistic and largely unconscious mode of reasoning. System 2 is slow, deliberative, lazy, analytical and consciously effortful mode of reasoning. System 2 constructs thoughts to make choices and determine our actions. System 1 produces reactive impulses, sometimes based on impressions of System 2. System 2 is meant to spur the activities of System 1. However, since System 2 is lazy and tires easily, we make the reverse the case when we don't deliberate about our decisions. System 1 produces quick drafts of reality and System 2 endorses without logical scrutiny. From this perspective, Kahneman, tell stories of experiments he conducted with his late friend, Amos Tversky, to prove that as humans, most of the time, our brains operate with System 1. We are prone to errors, cognitive biases and illusion of irrationality. We prefer our subjective experience to objective global view; we prefer to work with assumptions rather than probabilities; we are more averse to losses rather than motivated by gain; we build our judgment from our emotions rather than objectivity; we rely on expert judgment to make choices rather than standard formula. Kahnemen uses psychological terms to describe such biases of intuition, such as, halo effect, priming, endowment effect, hindsight bias, Florida effect, framing effects, anchoring effects, WYSIATI, Answering an Easier Question, Regression to the Mean, focusing illusion, risk aversion, peak-end-rule, availability bias, cognitive energy and so on. I will describe just four of these; halo effect, anchoring effect, WYSIATI and availability effect. The halo effect [82] is a name for common bias that plays a large role in shaping our views of people and situation. For example, the exam paper of a student who is known by his lecturers as the most intelligent student in a class is likely to get a favourable score than if it were of a relatively dull student in the class. A book written by an award winning author is likely to be a bestseller, than if the same book were written by someone who is relatively unknown. Anchoring effect [119] occurs when people consider a particular value for an unknown quantity before estimating that quantity. For example, if one is asked whether Gandhi was more than 114 years old when he died, one will end up with a higher estimate of his age; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crime and Punishment (Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Fyodor Dostoyevsky Page; Review: The plot of Crime and Punishment is centered on the moral struggles and mental anguish of the protagonist, Raskolnikov. Raskolnikov was an impoverished former student in St. Pittsburg who dropped out of school due to financial reasons. He conceptualizes a plan to kill a pawn-broker, for the benefit of the impoverished in his immediate community. What kind of a man would kill for the benefit of mankind? What benefit of mankind? Raskolnikov goes ahead to murder the pawn-broker, Alyona Ivanovna, with an axe (an act the author described in exhaustive details). Raskolnikov kills Alyona Ivanovna, and soon realizes that he forgot to lock the door. Alyona Ivanovnas half-sister, Lizaveta, who unfortunately stumbled into the scene of the crime, was also murdered by Raskolnikov. His plan is in-line with his own hypothesis (something he had proposed in a paper he published in a Journal), that certain people have the tendencies of becoming a Napolean, a man-God, by stepping beyond the moral and legal limits of man-made institutions. As such, murder and all kinds of social vices are permissible, only to the extent that these kinds of people see their actions as a means towards the uplifting humanity. Rskolnikov was driven by the ambitions to become a Napolean. This thesis is to be reflected through the 20th and 21st century, in characters like Hitler, the Soviets, religious fundamentalists etc. Raskolnikov in Razumikhins company visits Porfiry Petrovich. They discuss about Raskolnikovs published work. In the scene, Dostoyevsky, speaking through Raskolnikov, lays bare the objective of the novel. He gives the reader the idea of the Napoleonic character he saw in human nature. It was a kind of prophetic hypothesis. My criticism of the novel is based on the fact that Dostoyevsky precisely analyzed and fore-told the defect of human nature. He predicted a hydra-headed monster and left mankind with his fate, in the middle of nowhere. As a conservative that he is, he offers no solution to this problem, a fundamental defect of Dostoyevskys ideas. Like Raskolnikov said, its not my fault that this problem exists'. After the murder, Raskolnikov steals the items of the pawn-broker. He hides the stolen items under a rock. Thereafter, he falls into a deep feverish unconscious state and his conscience is deeply troubled over the crime. He had been mistaken in his thought that the act of murder would transform him into a Napolean. Instead of the boost of his ego, he got a charred conscience. In his state of delirium, Raskolnikov was cared for by Natasha, the housekeeper at his apartment; a doctor named Zossimov; and his best friend, Razumikhin. The story goes back and forth, and back and forth, in intense psychological drama. Raskolnikov is at times nasty, at others funny, and at others pitiful. He is tormented by his conscience. He behaves like a lunatic, arrogant, temperamental and self-delusional. He roams the streets of St. Pittsburg, drawing suspicions to himself. On one occasion, he goes to the house where he murdered the pawn-broker and asks to buy the place. On another occasion, he talks carelessly in; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crime and Punishment (Xist Classics) eBook; Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky; Review: The plot of Crime and Punishment is centered on the moral struggles and mental anguish of the protagonist, Raskolnikov. Raskolnikov was an impoverished former student in St. Pittsburg who dropped out of school due to financial reasons. He conceptualizes a plan to kill a pawn-broker, for the benefit of the impoverished in his immediate community. What kind of a man would kill for the benefit of mankind? What benefit of mankind? Raskolnikov goes ahead to murder the pawn-broker, Alyona Ivanovna, with an axe (an act the author described in exhaustive details). Raskolnikov kills Alyona Ivanovna, and soon realizes that he forgot to lock the door. Alyona Ivanovnas half-sister, Lizaveta, who unfortunately stumbled into the scene of the crime, was also murdered by Raskolnikov. His plan is in-line with his own hypothesis (something he had proposed in a paper he published in a Journal), that certain people have the tendencies of becoming a Napolean, a man-God, by stepping beyond the moral and legal limits of man-made institutions. As such, murder and all kinds of social vices are permissible, only to the extent that these kinds of people see their actions as a means towards the uplifting humanity. Rskolnikov was driven by the ambitions to become a Napolean. This thesis is to be reflected through the 20th and 21st century, in characters like Hitler, the Soviets, religious fundamentalists etc. Raskolnikov in Razumikhins company visits Porfiry Petrovich. They discuss about Raskolnikovs published work. In the scene, Dostoyevsky, speaking through Raskolnikov, lays bare the objective of the novel. He gives the reader the idea of the Napoleonic character he saw in human nature. It was a kind of prophetic hypothesis. My criticism of the novel is based on the fact that Dostoyevsky precisely analyzed and fore-told the defect of human nature. He predicted a hydra-headed monster and left mankind with his fate, in the middle of nowhere. As a conservative that he is, he offers no solution to this problem, a fundamental defect of Dostoyevskys ideas. Like Raskolnikov said, its not my fault that this problem exists'. After the murder, Raskolnikov steals the items of the pawn-broker. He hides the stolen items under a rock. Thereafter, he falls into a deep feverish unconscious state and his conscience is deeply troubled over the crime. He had been mistaken in his thought that the act of murder would transform him into a Napolean. Instead of the boost of his ego, he got a charred conscience. In his state of delirium, Raskolnikov was cared for by Natasha, the housekeeper at his apartment; a doctor named Zossimov; and his best friend, Razumikhin. The story goes back and forth, and back and forth, in intense psychological drama. Raskolnikov is at times nasty, at others funny, and at others pitiful. He is tormented by his conscience. He behaves like a lunatic, arrogant, temperamental and self-delusional. He roams the streets of St. Pittsburg, drawing suspicions to himself. On one occasion, he goes to the house where he murdered the pawn-broker and asks to buy the place. On another occasion, he talks carelessly in; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Things Fall Apart: With Connections (Holt McDougal Library, High School with Connections); Author: Visit Amazon's Chinua Achebe Page; Review: Things Fall Apart by Achebe has the characters and framework of a perfect work of art. Whether or not these ingredients are perfectly aligned, depends on the interpretation and imagination of the reader. The plot of the novel traces the way of life of the Ibo people in Umofia, Nigeria, to the mid-20th Century era, before and after contact with colonist and their religion of Christianity. The novel focuses on the protagonist, Okonkwo, who is a perfect anti-hero. He is arrogant, abusive, proud, negatively opinionated and easily flawed. Okonkwos successes are driven by the psychological instinct to overcome the failures of his weak father Unoka. He labours tirelessly. He builds his wealth with the labour of his own hands. His fame as a wrestler and brave warrior grew throughout the length and breadth of Umofia. When the people of Mbaino transgressed against the people of Umofia by killing an Umofia woman, the Oracle of Umofia demands a virgin and the son of the killer, Ikemefuna, as a price for peace settlement between the villages. Okonkwo is selected by his clan to be the guardian of Ikemefuna. Ikemefuna lives and grows with Okonkwo and becomes a member of his family. He considers Okonkwo his father. He develops emotional attachment with Okonkwo in ways that Okonkwo himself never imagined. Suddenly, the oracle declares that Ikemefuna must be killed. Ezeudu, the oldest man in Umofia warns Okonkwo that he should have nothing to do with the murder of Ikemefuna because the boy calls him father. Okonkwo high-headedness and arrogance pushes him to play a leading role in the murder of the lad. After the death of Ikemefuna, Okonkwo is tormented by his conscience. The suffering of the great anti-hero begins. His guilt makes him lose faith in himself. I regard this scene as the most exalted in the novel; where the arrogant and bestial Okonkwo, who had killed many great warriors and even drank from the skull of some, is hunted and humbled by the guilt of participating in the murder of a mere child. If I have any criticism of this scene, it would be that Achebes summary of words deprives it of its authentic soulfulness. During Ezedus funeral, Okonkwos gun accidentally explodes and kills Ezedus son. Inspite of all Okonkwos great accomplishment, he is humiliated by the mere accidental misfire of a gun. Okonkwo is sentenced to seven years in exile with his family. He proceeded to Mbanta, his mothers village. In Mbanta Okonkwos masculine chauvinistic tendency and obstinate arrogance is directly challenged. Firstly, he is humbled to be accommodated in his mothers village; secondly, he is reduced to live under the same roof with his uncle, Uchendu. Uchendus ideas are a direct contrast to all the negativity Okonkwo had lived to defend all his life; thirdly, his ambition is undermined by his exile from Umofia. Infact, his friend, Obierika, had to farm in his land in the period of his exile, bringing money for him every now and then. Okonkwo, viewed from the perspective of these three characters, Ezeudu, Obierika and Uchendu,; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Blue Wilderness Grain-Free Soft-Moist Cat Treats; Brand: BLUE Wilderness; Review: I love my cats and they live this food and getting it delivered is awesome!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Temptations Classic Treats For Cats Tasty Chicken Flavor 16 Ounces (Pack Of 4); Brand: Temptations; Review: My cats love this and I love having it delivered!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cat's Pride Fresh and Light Ultimate Care Premium Unscented Hypoallergenic Multi-Cat Scoop Litter; Brand: Cat's Pride; Review: Best litter ever! Light weight and no dust! Awesome for me to carry down the stairs and j live the free delivery!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Friends by Sheri Duchess Cuddler in Amsterdam - Cocoa - Large; Brand: Best Friends by Sheri; Review: Bought this for my cats. They love it! Looks good with my decor too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Lightweight Litter, Multi-Cat, 9 Lbs; Brand: Arm & Hammer; Review: This is the best cat litter of all time, no dust and light weight! I have 3 cats and no odor!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Margherita; City: Monterosso al Mare Cinque Terre Italian Riviera Liguria; Review: My wife and I stayed at Hotel Margherita in September 2011. Whilst the local manager has little personality or charm, the facilities were very good. It should be added that the Manager's staff were pleasant and accommodating. The hotel is located in the central hub of Monterossa and is easy walking distance to shops and restaurants. The hotel breakfast were of a very high order. We took the train service to Monterossa which was excellent. It is a bit of a walk (perhaps a kilometer) from the train station to the hotel. My wife and I are reasonably fit (for being middle aged) and we dragged the 2 cases from the station to the hotel. Best to try and get an upper level room at the hotel as it provides some better outlook. Would we return to Hotel Margherita? Yes, just hope the Manager has moved on!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pierre Hotel Florence; City: Florence Tuscany; Review: We travelled to Florence in Sept 2011. Sadly we had a major car accident on the autostrade on the day of our trip to Florence. By 'the grace of God' we managed to finally get to Hotel Pierre. The concierge, Roberto, was absolutely brilliant. He demonstrated enormous care and empathy, which we both appreciated. Whilst the room was nothing to rave about, the Hotel is located in central Florence hence an easy walk to all the restaurants, churches, musems and the like. We stayed at the hotel for 3 evenings. On the day of our scheduled departure there was a train strike. Roberto organised for us to stay another evening in an upgraded room at very competitive rates. Our second room was far superior to our initial experience. Like many hotels in Italy, the rooms are reasonably small, bathrooms modest however as long as your expectations are realistic then the experience should be positive. Would I stay at Hotel Pierre again? Even though the staff were superb, would still try and find a hotel a little more up-market.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ruzzini Palace Hotel; City: Venice Veneto; Review: We stayed at the Ruzzini Palace Hotel in September last year. The accommodation was superb. Upon arrival we were advised that our accommodation was upgraded. The suite was huge, with very, very high and ornate ceilings. We genuinely thought we were staying in a palace. The hotel was in an excellent location in Venice although a little challenging to find. The water taxi initially dropped us off about 150 metres from the hotel and we spent the next half hour trying to locate it. The breakfasts were modest and did not compare well with other hotels we had stayed at in Italy. The staff of the hotel were immensely hospitable and helpful. If I visited Venice again, Hotel Ruzzini would be on the itinerary.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coast Resort Merimbula; City: Merimbula New South Wales; Review: We have stayed at Coast Resort each summer for the past 3 years, usually for a 2 week period each time. Coast Resort is located on the fishpen, walking distance to the main beach and the Merimbula inlet. The accommodation is of a very good standard, spacious and clean. One small area for improvement in the self contained apartments is the need to provide a greater number of utensils and equipment in the kitchens. The facility has two pools and our preference is the lap pool. The tennis court is very popular and extensively used. If you are after a restful holiday (and not an adventure) then Coast and Merimbula should be on your radar. David and his team are very personable and try to do the right thing by patrons.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saltwater Luxury Apartments; City: Port Douglas Queensland; Review: We have just recently spent 10 days at Saltwater Apartments and had a wonderful holiday. The great advantage of this accommodation is its central location to shops, supermarket and restaurants. The facilities were immaculate. We were initially concerned that the central location might create a little traffic noise in the evenings however sleep was not adversely impacted. There was an excellent view of the great dividing range to the west. John and Carolyne were top value, always courteous and helpful. In fact we booked many of the tours through them. We plan to be back in Port Douglas within the next 2 years and Saltwater will be be a favoured resting place.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel d Europe; City: Avignon Vaucluse Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: We are just about to conclude our stay at Hotel d'Europe. It has been a wonderful experience. The history and character of this building, within the walled city, is uplifting and inspiring. The staff and service are of the highest standard. The meals have been excellent. I would come back here in a heart beat. Our room (207) is spacious and well fitted. I love the high ceilings and the fact that the decor is true to the period. Hotel d'Europe is one of the better hotels that I have stayed at in my travels to Europe. Hence I can strongly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rubens at the Palace; City: London England; Review: We stayed at Rubens in the last week of July 2013. I made the booking on the basis of the Trip Advisor comments. Whilst the location of the hotel is first rate i.e. 200 metres from Buckingham Palace, much of the internal of the hotel is tired and need of a 'refresh'. We had a room on the first floor, of modest size, with no outlook. The carpet was worn and in need of replacement (or at least a good carpet clean), there was no fixed shower fitting so you had to hold the fitting and try and wash youself with one hand, and there was no bar fridge. As soon as you entered the corridoor on level one there was evidence of a very strong musty odour. On the positive side, the staff were always pleasant and acccomodating. Meals provided were to an acceptable standard. Rubens is a reasonable London option based on its great location but travellers need to be aware of its shortcomings.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: L Hotel De Beaune; City: Beaune Cote d Or Bourgogne Franche Comte; Review: We stayed at L'Hotel for 3 evenings in the first week of August 2013. This hotel is in a brilliant location in Beaune. We were able to walk easily to all the local attractions and retail outlets. The rooms and bathroom are spacious and very clean. Staff were helpful and courteous. This is a very small hotel and has a special intimacy and charm. After previously staying at the award winning Hotel d'Europe in Avignon on this trip, we thought we would struggle to find a hotel of a similar standard. L'Hotel de Beaune did not let us down. We will be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Dream Downtown; City: New York City New York; Review: From the start to the end this hotel experience has been great. We stayed on the 4th floor. Rooms are nice with cool design. We found the rooms quiet. Great location. Good party sceen. No probems getting up to the disco for free after 9:30. I traveled with my boyfriend. Nice staff that always where helpfull and friendly. I would love to come back again!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dream South Beach; City: Miami Beach Florida; Review: Went during spring break 2012. The hotel was ok. Party scene was low (we came 1 week to late .. There was a. Playboy party and music festival at the hotel...). Good value. Ok beach area. Cool party scene around the hotel. Weird smell in the lobby. Nice and atentive staff. Rooms look cool!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Queen Boutique Hotel; City: Krakow Lesser Poland Province Southern Poland; Review: Do i need to say more then: Free champagne for breakfast. Stayed here during august 2012. 2 parking spaces for the whole hotel just outside and you need to pay for it! Some distance from Stary Rynek. Our non smoking room smelled of smoke.. We changed with someone of our party that dd not mind it. The room was toward the street (traffic street), but not noisy. Nice bed. Nice design of the hotel. Nice breakfast. Always greated by staff.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Blu Airport Hotel Oslo Gardermoen; City: Gardermoen Ullensaker Municipality Akershus ; Review: Location, location, location. Costs abit more, but no need for any buss (that u need to pay for) to get to the hotel! Did not hear a sound from the airport! Stayed before an earlie flight. We arrived late at around 10 at night. Very nice and frienly people at reception. There where an overbooking of rooms so we got upgraded to a suite. This was basically just a bigger room. Beds where good and room very clean, abit outdated interior! We had a late dinner w good service at the restaurant. We stayed at the hotel until 6 in the morning. Great night sleep! No time for brekfast, but it looked good with a good selection!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kragero Resort; City: Kragero Municipality Telemark Eastern Norway; Review: Went during summer of 2012 to celebrate my mums birthday! This hotel has very nice and cool design. cool bar. nice rooms with ok beds. We had a package deal with food included. Was really nice. The swimming pool area with the saunas where good (the sauna with a view was way to cold for my taste, while the steam sauna was almost to hot..). The bar was nice with a lounge mood. Not a huge party crowd. Nice hotel for a spa trip or for families. We did not try out the golf. the fitness room was great with a huge selections. The hotel is on the other side of the fjord from Kragerø (with a super nice view of the city) and u need to either drive by car around or take a boat. this boat only goes over the fjord a few times during the weekends... This hotel is dog friendly! I will def. come back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saga Hotel Oslo; City: Oslo Eastern Norway; Review: This hotel has great interior design, super location (can be bit tricky for turist, but you can take a tram from the main train station to 1 block fom the hotel, no need for taxi!). I stayed only for 1 night and left to earlie to have some breakfast. My sister stayed longer and loved it! The hotel has comfortable bed! Helpfull staff! Cool and interesting shops in the area and ok night scene! I will def. Come back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dandy Hotel Tianjin Branch; City: Zhongshan District Taipei; Review: Amazing! Really good hotel quite close to MRT. Good location in Taipei. Amazing service. Very cheap. Free use of washer and dryer, free breakfast (really good), free drinks and water. Free movies. Very helpfull staff! The website can make it somehow confusing to book a room as not everything is in english (use google translate). I will come back and recommend you to book this hotel. I would say it is for the price with all included the best hotel I stayed at! Great value!!! Tip: don't get the cheapest room as it is quite small! Ok for 1 person!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Continental Oslo; City: Oslo Eastern Norway; Review: Really nice location in the center of Oslo. Close to major attractions and the subway (about 50 m away). The subway stop is also a stop for the train from Oslo airport. Really friendly staff. I had a standard room with breakfast. The room was amazing! The bed, the pillow and even the blanket was so incredible. I have never been in a nicer standard room in Norway! I can not understand how this can just be a standard room. The breakfast was excellent. Super happy with the stay and would recommend it to anyone!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wangz Hotel; City: Singapore; Review: We stayed at this hotel a week before easter. Staff is nice and attentive. Big room. Good price. 500 m walk to the closest MRT (to get to downtown). Some nice places to eat and party places about 10-5 min walk. Only had breakfast once. average, but nothing special. Not worth getting up for. coffee was horrible. The laundery service was good. Bar upstairs was ok. I somehow felt the room was humid. We have previously stayed at The marina bay sands and novotel in Singapore and this was never a problem.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shambala Lodge; City: Le Moule Grande Terre Island Guadeloupe; Review: Very lovely hotel that is in a peaceful area. You NEED a car when you visit Guadeloupe. Very friendly staff that both speak excellent English. The place is quite new. Awesome room. Just like pictures. Had a very good night sleep. I still remember the lovely breakfast we had each morning and wanting more. The property has 2 dogs that are just lovely and well behaved. I highly recommend this place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Loot; Author: Visit Amazon's Jude Watson Page; Review: great book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Care and Keeping of You Journal (Revised): for Younger Girls (American Girl); Author: Dr. Cara Natterson; Review: great for young girls; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Hug a Porcupine: Negotiating the Prickly Points of the Tween Years; Author: Visit Amazon's Julie A. Ross Page; Review: great book for tween living.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Light of the Fireflies; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Pen Page; Review: good story kept me interested.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Dark Lure; Author: Visit Amazon's Loreth Anne White Page; Review: Fast paced. Lots of twist and ties just like a fly ! Love the German Shepard Ace ! Will read more of her books Thanks Amazon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: niceEshop(TM) Cute Velvet Animal Style Story Time Educational Finger Puppets Set with niceEshop Cable Tie; Brand: niceeshop; Review: These finger puppets are even cuter than the pictures. They're soft and well made, with no repeats in the set. The finger holes are large enough for the average adult finger but contain an elastic to keep them on tiny fingers. My daughters love them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Money Maze Bank by Dragonpad; Brand: Dragonpad; Review: Well made maze. After it opens, the ball is shunted to the beginning part of the maze, so re-opening it again immediately is not an option. Clever.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: O Ball 1-Piece Rattle & Roll Car, Assorted Colors; Brand: Oball; Review: The one that arrived was different from the one pictured (perhaps they could post photos of all models?) but well made and just right for the baby we bought it for. A good toy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sushi Go! - The Pick and Pass Card Game; Brand: Gamewright; Review: With people who know what they are doing, this game takes maybe 20 minutes. It's simple, pleasant, with just enough element of chance to make even my game-atheist mother like it. A bright, fun little game that appeals to everyone in the family -- even the five-year-old who thinks she can play, even the serious game players who think that if it takes less than 25 minutes to explain the rules it's not worth playing (you can explain Sushi Go's rules in 90 seconds), even the cousin who is reluctant to play anything for fear of being stuck at a table for the rest of her natural life. It's even tiny and easy to carry along to a gathering. Only side effect: most people suddenly start craving sushi. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ravensburger Funny Bunny - Children's Game; Brand: Ravensburger; Review: My three year old, five year old, and seven year old can all play this correctly, and they love it. It even has just enough strategy to keep an adult interested. What a great game!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cirplexed Game; Brand: MindWare; Review: I purchased this for small children (averaging age 5), but I think it would do better for older people (averaging age 8 or 9). It's simple, but rather difficult.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Funko Legacy Action: Firefly - Malcolm Reynolds Action Figure; Brand: FunKo; Review: The paint job and the design is awesome. Joints at the neck, sternum, shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, angles, hips. The actual casting of the pieces is a little sloppy so some of the joints don't work perfectly, but it's totally workable and a great deal for the price. It also looks more like Mal than any other action figure I've come across.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: American Weigh Scale AWS-100 Digital Pocket Scale, 100g X 0.01g Resolution; Brand: American Weigh Scales; Review: I use this to weigh coffee. It's consistent and accurate. You need to buy a weight to calibrate but they're cheap. Calibration was a snap.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tribest CS-1000 CitriStar Electric Citrus Juicer; Brand: Tribest; Review: I really like this juicer. First of all, it has power. With a cheaper juicer you'll press down on the orange and the motor will jam. That's annoying. Second, this is very easy to clean. My old juicer took a long time to clean. It was messy and unpleasant. This one is designed where you can clean it in seconds. I love that! Third, it has a great little tilt spout so you can turn off and on the flow. That sure comes in handy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bonavita BV1800 8-Cup Coffee Maker with Glass Carafe; Brand: Bonavita; Review: I bought this so I could get water that was hot enough for good coffee. In tests I conducted, sometimes the water temperature was 200 degrees but other times it dipped down to 195 degrees. Unfortunately, there's no automatic setting for presoaking the grounds for 30 seconds. You have to do that manually which can be a pain. The water gauge is difficult to read. Usually, the coffee water just wasn't hot enough. I stopped using this and I went back to simply making pour over, one cup at a time. It's more work but you get better coffee.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bulbrite 701111 - 11S14C - 11 Watt S14 Clear Sign Bulb - 20 Pack; Brand: Sival; Review: I don't know what it is about these bulbs, but they set a nice mood, especially outdoors. Over the years I've collected a lot of candle lanterns. I decided to convert them all to electric garden lanterns with these bulbs. I'm impressed by how inexpensive these are. I don't know yet how long they'll last. If they burn out soon I'll redo this review and take off a star or two.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GE JES1460DSBB 22" 1.4 cu. ft. Capacity Countertop Microwave in Black; Brand: GE; Review: This microwave heats well and is simple to use but it died after two years. Two years is too soon. A decent appliance should last longer.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Friis 75051 16oz Stainless Steel Coffee Vault Canister, 16-Ounce; Brand: Friis; Review: Hm. I'm beginning to have my doubts. I regret my purchase. It doesn't seem that I'm getting any better results with this over a simple air-tight container.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: AeroPress Coffee Maker; Brand: AeroPress; Review: I'm not a casual coffee drinker. I know the pleasure of an outstanding cup of coffee so it's hard to settle for less. Because some famed coffee shops use the pour over method, that's what I was doing for years. Curious, I bought an AeroPress. I tried it and now that's all I use. I've had some great cups of coffee made with the pour over method but with the AeroPress I get great results with much higher frequency. The AeroPress method is faster. I get my coffee in 1/3 of the time. Because of the reduced time, I'm better able to control coffee temperature. The AeroPress involves stirring for extraction which can be done with pour over but with difficulty. If you're not a coffee nut like I am, don't worry. Making coffee with the AeroPress is quick and easy and the results usually exceed that of other methods.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prep Solutions by Progressive Mini Microwavable Steamer; Brand: Progressive International; Review: The size is so small that it is totally impractical. That what other reviews said but I ignored them. I shouldn't have. They were right.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer,; Brand: Instant Pot; Review: I read about this device in a couple of magazine articles. And then, online, I read glowing reports from people who are in love with it. They sounded a little cultish with their devotion and I wasn't sure I wanted to jump onto this crazy train. But I went ahead and bought it and it turns out I like it. There's nothing new about pressure cooking but with this electric, microprocessor controlled unit, you can leave it unattended. That's a major plus. Beans in 30 minutes. A whole chicken in 25 minutes. You can't beat that. And when I cooked pork, it came out nice and tender. Sometimes when I'm in a cold kitchen, I'll want to slow cook food, especially when I have other things to do in the kitchen or nearby. But it doesn't make the food turn out better. In fact, I usually get better results with the pressure cooker. I'm not a member of the Instant Pot cult, but I'm sure glad I bought this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jim Shore Heartwood Creek Scottish Santa Stone Resin Hanging Ornament, 4.75”; Brand: Enesco; Review: I gave this for a gift and it was a big hit. The quality of this piece exceeds expectations. Quite pleased.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Epica Anti-Slip Machine Washable Anti-Bacterial Bath Mat 16" x 28" Natural Rubber; Brand: Epica; Review: I'm pleasantly surprised by the high quality and good feel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pro Quality Nut Milk Bag - Big 12"X12" Commercial Grade - Reusable Almond Milk Bag; Brand: Ellie's Best; Review: Wow. This works great. It's a true marvel. It strains out everything you don't want. I use it to make soy milk. It works better than cheesecloth and is much, much easier to clean.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Look Who's Talking (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hellfighters (1968); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rain Man (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Overboard (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleeping With the Enemy (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Patriot Games (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 4 (1997); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Pure Country (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Entrapment (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pelican Brief (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Adventures in Babysitting (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Benji (1973); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Time to Kill (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kiss the Girls (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cool Runnings (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bone Collector (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Maid in Manhattan (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rules of Engagement (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swordfish (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Along Came a Spider (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 2 (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Double Jeopardy (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The General's Daughter (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Client (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The First Wives Club (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Powder (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tomb Raider (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 8 Seconds (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Just Cause (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Man of the House (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Clear and Present Danger (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Few Good Men (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: VANELi Womens Taletha Sandal; Brand: VANELi; Review: I have this sandal in two other colors so I was thrilled to find it on Amazon in black for a great price. This is a sandal that you can wear all day. I have tender feet and rarely find a comfortable sandal. It looks great with casual shorts or with skirts and dressy pants. I love the fact that you can adjust the toe strap. Quick delivery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VANELi Womens Taletha Sandal; Brand: VANELi; Review: I have this sandal in two other colors so I was thrilled to find it on Amazon in black for a great price. This is a sandal that you can wear all day. I have tender feet and rarely find a comfortable sandal. It looks great with casual shorts or with skirts and dressy pants. I love the fact that you can adjust the toe strap. Quick delivery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Keds Women's Chillax Washed Laceless Slip-On Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Love there very casual, comfortable sneakers. Price was reasonable and delivery was very quick. These are not shoes to wear for hiking or very active activities but for relaxing and just being comfortable they are great. I will buy more. I have narrow feet and this shoe fits me so if you have wide feet they may not be the shoes for you. They fit true to length.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Keds Women's Chillax Washed Laceless Slip-On Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Love there very casual, comfortable sneakers. Price was reasonable and delivery was very quick. These are not shoes to wear for hiking or very active activities but for relaxing and just being comfortable they are great. I will buy more. I have narrow feet and this shoe fits me so if you have wide feet they may not be the shoes for you. They fit true to length.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Foot Traffic The Ultimate Footie, Slipon Half Sock (2 pairs), Black and White, One size; Brand: Foot Traffic; Review: I've been looking for fairly thin toe covers and these fit the bill! I wear them with sneakers and other shoes when I don't want to wear socks or hose and don't want the shoes to rub my toes. I'll order more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Keds Women's Chillax Washed Laceless Slip-On Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: Love there very casual, comfortable sneakers. Price was reasonable and delivery was very quick. These are not shoes to wear for hiking or very active activities but for relaxing and just being comfortable they are great. I will buy more. I have narrow feet and this shoe fits me so if you have wide feet they may not be the shoes for you. They fit true to length.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Michael Antonio Women's Langston Platform Pump; Brand: Michael Antonio; Review: I love these shoes! I received so many compliments on my first day wearing them. My only complaint is that they run a tad small.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bravado Men's Black Sabbath Creature T- Shirt; Brand: Bravado; Review: My husband is a die hard Sabbath fan, and he loves this T-Shirt! It arrived quickly and as described. Recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swhiteme Women's Kimono Robe, Short; Brand: Swhiteme; Review: I ordered several of these robes in several different colors for family members. WOW, are they beautiful!! Each robe came with a gorgeous gift bag as well. Really fast shipping and GREAT customer service! I will buy from again!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Madden Girl Women's Getta Pump; Brand: Madden Girl; Review: Great looking shoe, great price. HOWEVER, after wearing this shoe for an entire work day, my feet hurt for two days.... I'm giving them away! :(; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: booti boot shaper COLOR - mix (pack of 8) for 4 pairs of boots; Brand: bootiUSA; Review: These things are perfect for keeping your boots in great condition! Also helps keep your closet organized as you can line up your boots and they don't fall all over each other. Finally!! Reasonable price, and they store flat when you're not using them! I will definitely buy more of these!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AK Anne Klein Women's Nicoletta Suede Riding Boot; Brand: ; Review: Gorgeous boots!!! My favorites, I get compliments constantly!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Breckelle's Womens Ankle Strap Pointy Toe Heels; Brand: Breckelle's; Review: Gorgeous shoes, great price!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Breckelle's Women Leatherette Open Toe Ankle Strap Single Band Stiletto Sandal; Brand: Breckelle's; Review: Gorgeous shoes, great price!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Camellias Women's 26 Steel Boned Heavy Duty Waist Trainer Corset Shaper for Weight Loss; Brand: Camellias Corsets; Review: Really nice quality for a very reasonable price. I'll definitely buy another in black!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bertha Premium Full Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses w/Flash Mirror Lens Polarized for Men & Women with Eyeglasses Case 805; Brand: BERTHA; Review: Love these shades, super cool!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Boys' Big Dyed Tank; Brand: ; Review: Very very tiny, toddler sized; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: GEARONIC TM Women Wallet Long Clutch Faux Leather Card Holder Fashion Purse Lady Woman Handbag Bag; Brand: GEARONIC TM; Review: Cute clutch; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kim + ONO Women's Kimono Robe Long - Lace Trim; Brand: Old Shanghai; Review: Gorgeous robe!!! Yes it is lightweight fabric, somewhat sheer...it's lingerie, what do you expect!? I'm pretty curvy, size 10 or 11 and I'm 5'6'', it does fit but it is NOT for anyone any bigger than this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ShopMyTrend Women's Bodycon Pencil Skirt; Brand: ShopMyTrend; Review: Pretty nice for an inexpensive skirt. It has a lot of stretch, comfortable as well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Homewood Suites Orlando International Drive Convention Center; City: Orlando Florida; Review: This property is located between two very busy roads in the International Drive area of Orlando. It is the most quiet place I ever stayed... The staff was fantastic. They not only made me feel welcome but also made me feel like they appreciated my visit.They were so helpful with all my needs. The Reception provided REAL food instead of chips and junk food like most hotels. My only complaint was the Housekeeping Dept was one of the worst I ever had. They did not care to replace some of the bathroom supplies. One day the bed was not made and the sink was left uncleaned.I did not complain. But, this is all that was wrong here and why I did not give the highest rating to this property. I still recommend this property as a great getaway for someone who really needs some peace and quiet. My complaint is only an isolated issue. Talk to the great people at the front desk and they should take care of it..; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Maingate South; City: Davenport Florida; Review: The most quiet peaceful night I ever spent in a room. This was so wonderful compare to my exeriences at Holiday Inn and Hilton properties. This property is under renovations so half of it is closed off. I was in an area that had quite a bit of guests but I did not hear any noise or had any issues. The place smells brand new. The staff was incredible. The staff member handling the "free breakfast" provided the greatest service and attitude while I was there. I am a Hilton HHonors and Holiday Inn Platinum member!!! This was great.. I'M COMING BACK!!! Thank you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando; City: Orlando Florida; Review: Nice property at a great location. This is a remodeled Quality Inn that was wonderful. The staff was very nice and helpful. Property is well maintained. My only complaint was the Sports Bar does not open until late in the afternoon. I was looking into relaxing over lunch and a couple drinks before going to the pool and it was closed. Other than that I still think this is a great place and will come back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown; City: Chicago Illinois; Review: It started out a little rough. I was "E-checked in" upon my morning arrival. I notified the front desk I was here (room was not ready yet) and went to get a bite at the breakfast buffet. Even though I had checked in I was not permitted into the area because I had no key. I grabbed a coffee from the lobby and ate somewhere else. This was the only issue I had. My experiance was great here. I will come back here to stay when I am in town again. Staff were very nice and helpful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites Orlando International Drive Convention Center; City: Orlando Florida; Review: Broken hotel room. TV remote did not work. Bedroom ceiling fan did not work. Shower curtin rod coming out of wall. Toilet made loud noise like a duck in pain!!!!! The hotel was booked solid and I was on a retreat with someone so I did not want to complain. The room I stayed in should be shut down and repaired. Other than that, this is a nice place in a great location. I don't know if I will be back.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Howard Johnson by Wyndham Historic St Augustine FL; City: St Augustine Florida; Review: This is an old property and does need a little work. The staff were very nice and helpfull with our questions. The property is at a great location. The trolleys pick you up and drop you off here. The rooms were ok. We saw a few bugs in our room, the toilet had issues and the door was dirty and needed painting. The bathroom was very clean and well lit. The breakfast was very basic. Stay away from the hard boiled eggs!!! This is a good place for those who are on a budget. Stay here and spend your money enjoying the town!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Embassy Suites by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort; City: Myrtle Beach South Carolina; Review: Stayed in the actual hotel and not the condos this time. Well worth it. You get all the special perks that come with Embassy Suites. The view from my "not oceanfront room" was beautiful. The Concierge person could have been a little more friendly and helpful. I will definitely stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Area; City: Orlando Florida; Review: The location is right next to Disney Springs with safe walkways. The property has a lot of facilities including a large pool deck with a bar. There are restaurant choices (try Benihana). The staff were very nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile; City: Chicago Illinois; Review: This is a very nice hotel in the middle of downtown Chicago. The hotel was very clean and the room was great. The front desk staff really made it great. I had problems with their computer system but Amanda at the front desk got me everything I needed (boarding passes and shipping labels for my business). She turned my frustrations into happiness. Thank you Amanda. I will be back here again...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites Orlando Apopka; City: Apopka Florida; Review: Nice quiet place near the springs off the main road. Close to restaurants. Good breakfast (included). Hotel very clean and well kept. Very good stay.. The person at the front desk (Shirin) was very helpful and made our time here enjoyable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Suites Savannah Airport; City: Savannah Georgia; Review: This was a great place to be. We came here from Florida seeking shelter from Hurricane Irma and we were welcome with open arms!!! The staff and management were like one big happy family and they treated us like we were their house guests. They made sure we were comfortable and took care of anything we needed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Turnersville Philadelphia Area; City: Blackwood New Jersey; Review: In south Jersey to visit old friend and stayed here. The location and easy access to the highway was great. Staff was very nice and hotel very clean. Room was also very clean. The only problem was the elevators were the slowest in the world.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Hotel Philadelphia Cherry Hill; City: Cherry Hill New Jersey; Review: Good things were the hotel and room were very clean and quiet. Nice view of the Cooper River. The bad. I am Platinum Elite and they only gave me 1 drink coupon at check in (It's normally 2) and I could not get hardly anything at the bar (draft beer) I wanted. The private VIP lounge only would allow me 1 beer when I normally can have a couple more. I also got stuck in an elevator for a brief time. The staff was very nice. I did not complain. I just wanted to get out of there as quick as possible.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Orlando at SeaWorld; City: Orlando Florida; Review: One of the quietest hotels I ever stayed. Located close to SeaWorld. Very clean property and staff was very nice. Transportation to SeaWorld included. SeaWorld is also within walking distance. I-Ride trolley is also close.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rosen Centre Hotel; City: Orlando Florida; Review: Stayed here on a business trip. We were greeted by wonderful staff. Received an upgraded suite that was great. Nice view of pool. Harrys Poolside bar was fun. The meeting facilities were nice. The room was quiet and very clean. Plenty of facilities on the property.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops; City: Fort Myers Florida; Review: Good location across from Bell tower shops. Hotel was quiet. Nice sports bar that was quite busy. It seems to be the place to go. Room was very clean. A bit of an older crowd in the bar area. Pool are was very clean. There is a shuttle to transport you to local places like the shopping centers and restaurants.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Psycho (1998); Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mommie Dearest (1981); Genres: Drama; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Princess Bride, The (1987); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Romancing the Stone (1984); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Three Colors: Red (Trois couleurs: Rouge) (1994); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: It's a Wonderful Life (1946); Genres: Children, Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Last Days of Disco, The (1998); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Pie 2 (2001); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Abyss, The (1989); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 28 Days (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Arachnophobia (1990); Genres: Comedy, Horror; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Anna and the King (1999); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bachelor, The (1999); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Schloss Elmau; City: Elmau Upper Bavaria Bavaria; Review: We had the benefit of staying in both the "Castle" and the new wing "Retreat". I don't know the German word for Zen, however Schloss Elmau embodies and delivers a Zen experience. The resort is perfectly situated in a breathtaking valley with unique and scenic vistas carefully considered from just about any point on the resort. The service was incredible and welcoming regardless of my not mastering the local tongue, property spotless, the food offering was very good with a healthful focus, and 600 wines for any pallete. Both rooms were very well appointed with comfortable furnishings and beautiful lighting and finishes. The spa left me in a much calmer state than when I arrived in Europe. The resort is tranquil and would highly recommend to anyone seeking a tranquil and memorable destination.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Le Meridien Denver Downtown; City: Denver Colorado; Review: We booked Meridian envisioning a lively & romantic get-away before the Nora En Pure concert. The service was just average. The lobby bar had two bartenders despite it being over half empty. Half our food never came, and we had to wave repeatedly to get bartenders attention. We opted to give it another chance and try the rooftop bar after hearing of its popularity. The view is admittedly great urban, but the service is mediocre at best. We could not eat or get a bottle of wine at the rooftop venue as all the tables were consumed by FAC crowd camping out with a beer. Its definitely first come first serve so being a guest at the hotel earns you an elevator ride, but that's it. The rooms are very progressive with cool lighting and beautiful finishes, but very-very small. Not rushing back...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hideaway; City: Palm Springs Greater Palm Springs California; Review: Got to stay here for Coachella and then returned for Modernism Week. That something this tranquil is an opportunity mere blocks from a host of restaurants, galleries, and tennis was a pleasant surprise. When you are done with the fast pace, cocktails, and noise of the rest of downtown, just walk through the gates of the Hideaway and the beautiful view to the mountain.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Indigo San Diego Del Mar; City: Del Mar California; Review: The Indigo is a nice refreshed boutique property in a beach community that is surprisingly lacking for Hotel options. We opted for Indigo due to a desire to visit Del Mar Beach. Rating is tough to do as there are many complexities to weigh. The service was good, but the housekeeping crew is not friendly and doesn't speak english, or opted not to engage if they do despite seeing them every day and saying hi. Our room was given up by some sort of mistake/computer error despite our booking direct with them four months prior. Management did reach out and offer an alternative which worked well and the fact they acknowledged it is both rare and commendible. Its a long walk to the central beach, about 10 blocks, and parking in Del Mar is very limited, or pricey in summer. The hotel is across the train tracks from the beach so exercising a little care is necessary. The walk to the waves is through a scenic beachside community however, and clamboring down the trail to the water is an adventure rewarded by a beautiful fine sandy beach that goes for miles, one part quiet, one part bustling. The food at Indigo is decent and the lounge opens out to an ocean vista over the rooftops. Their weekday rate was reasonable value, however the weekend price isn't on par and seems to leverage the lack of competition. Our room and balcony needed a little maintenance, and accessing the fitness center was a bit like trying to get to the inner chamber in an Indiana Jones movie. Would give it another try due to the managements accommodating gesture and beauty of the beach down the road.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The ART a hotel; City: Denver Colorado; Review: We stayed in a Capital Suite at the Art Hotel for a special occasion which proved to be a great pick. The progressive layout, sitting area, private balcony, & expansive sleeping quarter separated by French doors & populated with modern furniture appointment made for a wonderful stay. The artwork displayed throughout the hotel is of the owners private collection and is beautifully embraced by the building itself. We enjoyed a Rombauer & delicious lunch fare in "Fire", a restaurant with exterior firepits up on the second floor with large expanses of canted glass overlooking the city bustle below establishing a voyeuristic culinary experience. Management granted us a late check-out for our special occasion which was much appreciated. We played tourist to wander the City's Art Museum, Civic Center Park, and primary Library by Michael Graves all within a block walk of the Hotel. Would definitely recommend the Art Hotel for romantic get-away or cultural urban weekend, or Fire for cocktails in a bustling city setting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Source Hotel; City: Denver Colorado; Review: We chose The Source as home-base for a Rhino (River North District) getaway. Its on the periphery of a burgeoning Denver area, but truly delivers. The service, food, and ambience of the Source hotel exceeded our expectations. The architecture is somewhat "raw" with a New York loft feel utilizing big roll up glass doors and lots of exposed concrete, but still manages to be comfortable with intermittent maple accents. We could not decide between their rooftop dining room or "The Source" multi-venue dining co-op next door, so we did both. Views from the rooftop restaurant (and pool deck) expand clear to mountains in the distance and city below. The Northern Lights (Craft cocktail) and chardonnays up in "The Woods" accompanied by charcuterie were wonderful. Its a young hip crowd which makes for great people-watching too. Everyone starting the valet that greeted us to the manager that bid us adieu were friendly and helpful. We want to go back soon.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Bedside Baccalaureate: The Second Semester: A Handy Daily Cerebral Primer to Fill in the Gaps, Refresh Your Knowledge; Author: David Rubel; Review: This book is the perfect companion to the first in this two-book series. The depth and breadth of subjects covered will impress any person who would like to stay up-to-date on the liberal arts and sciences. Perhaps the most important reason I purchased this book was because I expected the quality of writing to be as good, or better, than the quality of the first book and I was not disappointed. The "Second Semester," takes you on a different tour of learning: new subjects and some more ind-depth research on one previous subject. This book is definitely not for the lazy or insincere. The author or editor seem to expect that you want to use this material for learning. You will not be disappointed. The text is illustrated, clearly written, and well-organized. I can think of one or more schools that should have this book on their library shelf. My greatest regret is that there is no third semester.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Calculus, Early Transcendentals Textbook Only; Author: Visit Amazon's James Stewart Page; Review: I have been teaching Stewart Calculus since he first started publishing his books. This latest revision of his classic text is especially suited for fresher's in calculus I and II. Clarity of concept development and writing style are it best features. I highly recommend this book to both instructor and student alike. I bought it used on a gamble that it was in pristine condition as advertised and I was not disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cracking the GRE Mathematics Subject Test, 4th Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven A. Leduc Page; Review: I have been using this book since it was first published to help others prepare for the GRE Math Subject Test. The author not only knows mathematics, but he also understands the big ideas underlying mathematics. His crystal clear topical reviews and challenging problems are just what a student or instructor needs to stay on track or the exam.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GRE Mathematics (GRE Test Preparation); Author: O. P. Agrawal; Review: The book was exactly as I expected. I use this book to help graduate candidates in mathematics prepare for the exam. I really appreciate Amazon's excellent standard shipping method. Delivery was prompt and packaging was great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Introduction to Chemistry - Atoms First; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Bishop Page; Review: The book was advertised as in "very good" condition, and so it is. Packaging was excellent. I shall have no difficulty teaching from this text for years to come.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Pride; Brand: White Lion; Review: I'm not exaggerating. Pride is perhaps "the most important album" I ever bought. It is what paved the way for me, what got me into Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, what made me a big fan of guitar riffs and solos, and so much more. I consider Pride to be the best album from the 80's era with all those so-called "hair bands". White Lion, for one, has always been different from 90% of the bands out there, especially because of Vito Bratta, possibly the most underrated musician of that decade and easily my favourite. Even though he retired from music back in 1992 and I have discovered lots of different bands and gotten into different types of metal, he is, to me, still the most emotional songwriter ever. His tone is one of a kind and I've yet to hear another player except Eric Johnson who can capture his incredibly clean tone. Vito's two-hand tapping became a trademark back when Pride was released and even Eddie Van Halen called him "one of the few players out there who made it big without trying to be an EVH clone". Now as for the album Pride, actually this is not White Lion's debut album as some people have said. Pride is the band's second release after their 1984 Fight To Survive album, which got little critical acclaim. Pride was the band's break through record on a major label, namely Atlantic. Produced by Michael Wagener, the album contained several hits including the Top 3 Billboard classics "When The Children Cry" and "Wait". The solo in the latter was discussed in countless guitar magazines from 1987 to 1989, till many other guitarists of the era were "influenced" by Vito's technique. Vocalist Mike Tramp sounds relatively more powerful on Pride compared to their debut FTS. His voice on songs like "Lady of the Valley", "Lonely Nights" and "When The Children Cry" sounds genuinely heartfelt and emotional. Though some listeners may not like his singing, to me, Pride would have never been so beautiful without Mike's input. Vito's call-and-response solos, alternate picking, crunchy riffs, and fluent legato combined with his unbelievable tapping along with Mike's haunting vocals and lyrics simply make Pride an 80's masterpiece. To this day all the songs on this album destroy me. I've been listening to it all these years and never got tired and I feel like I'll be giving Pride many more spins for years to come. Now that's what I call an album that never gets old and boring. The band released two more albums after Pride but never reached the same peak again. Too bad they never got the support from their label they so well deserved. It all ended in misery when Tramp went on to form a new band called Freak of Nature and Vito quit music altogether.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ancient Dreams; Brand: Candlemass; Review: Candlemass are without a doubt one of the most important doom metal bands in the world. Ever since their incredible debut Epicus Doomicus Metallicus they've gone a long way paving the way for other bands. They're among the founders of modern doom metal and while I enjoy each and every Candlemass record I consider the first 4 absolutely essential. Ancient Dreams is the second album with doom metal vocal god Messiah Marcolin and the third Candlemass album. It picks up where the classic Nightfall left off. Leif Edling's songwriting and bass playing is at its best and Marcolin's voice is simply incredible. The guitar solos are brilliant. It is hard to believe this was released back in 1988 when almost everyone was into glam, hard rock or thrash metal. I appreciate and respect Candlemass for their courage to stand up for themselves and make the music they believed in even though they knew it would never sell millions. That is why they have lasted all these years and are considered fathers of doom. They always remained true to their roots be it with Marcolin, Vikstrom or Flodkvist. My personal favourites off this record are "Cry from the Crypt", "Darkness In Paradise", the title song, and "Bells of Acheron". There's not a single filler on Ancient Dreams though. You might also want to check out Memory Garden, Solitude Aeturnus, Abstrakt Algebra and some other bands.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fight to Survive; Brand: White Lion; Review: Formed in November 1982 by ex-Dreamer guitarist Vito Bratta and Mabel and Studs vocalist Mike Tramp, White Lion released their debut album Fight To Survive in 1984 in Germany. The band went through several line-up changes until they were fully established. First, bassist Felix Robinson was replaced by Dave Spitz (Americade) and drummer Nicky Capozzi by former Anthrax drummer Greg D'Angelo. It is bassist Dave Spitz that appeared in the band's first video "Broken Heart" before he went to join Heavy Metal legends Black Sabbath. Enter James Lomenzo (ex-Rondinelli) to fill in his shoes and the final line-up of White Lion was completed. The album got released in Japan through Victor Records and was highly successful. Shortly after the band landed a part in the Tom Hanks movie "The Money Pit" but this didn't really bring them in the spotlight like they had hoped. In addition to this their American label Elektra dropped them out of the blue and all of a sudden here was a band that had no contract and support Stateside. Unfortunately it would take over 3 years till they could break in the USA with their multi-platinum record Pride in 1987. Fight To Survive was produced by German producer Peter Hauke who was originally also supposed to produce Pride and Big Game but somehow producer Michael Wagener handled the duties on the band's later releases. Because of the difference of producers and the mix, FTS sounds rather raw and heavy. Very heavy and in your face kind of 80's metal with crushing riffs from Vito Bratta and thoughtful lyrics from Mike Tramp. With the exception of perhaps only two songs ("Where Do We Run" and "Kid of 1,000 Faces") this is a typical heavy metal album . To this day I still run into people that loved White Lion on their debut effort and gradually lost interest after their follow-up Pride. I think I can see where they are coming from. Fight To Survive is melodic, heavy, dark... simply an album of protest. The duo's first ever song "Broken Heart" opens the album and it progresses with the heavy rockers "All The Fallen Men", "El Salvador", "In The City" and closes with the killer ballad "The Road To Valhalla". Vito's naive yet emotional guitar playing shines on this one. Both Vito and Mike were only 22 when they recorded their debut in White Lion. It is a shame that even after White Lion got gold, their fans had great difficulty locating this album for years. It wasn't until 1992 when Music For Nations finally made it available and released it worldwide. If you like melodic heavy metal from the 80's, it should be in your best interest to check Fight To Survive out. It is definitely much better than the majority of the other debut albums of any band out there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dance of Death; Brand: Iron Maiden; Review: Okay, from what I've seen over 160+ people have commented on Iron Maiden's new album Dance of Death analysing the new release from the band's songwriting to the lyrics to the guys' performance on their instruments to Bruce's vocals to the mix to the artwork to the production to this to that... etc. All that's necessary to say has already been said. So I'll keep it simple: This is IRON MAIDEN, one of the most important Heavy Metal bands on the planet. One of the handful of bands that has never forgotten where they're coming from, never abandoned their roots and musical vision in hopes of reaching to bigger audiences. They're still what they were back in 1988. Most complaints seem to be about the band's repetitious songwriting. About Harris' overuse of his galloping bass lines. Is there any truth to this? Maybe. I'm not a blinded fan, but at least I know what to expect from my Maiden when they put out a new record. At least it doesn't turn out to be a terrible pop-disco-rap thing that totally bombs and then every band member defends it giving out cliche statements such as "Well we're a band that always progresses. We wanted to try something different on our last album and somehow it didn't work out. We're gonna go back to our roots on the next release, don't worry, keep supporting us blah blah blah" kind of thing. Come to think about it, when was the last time you bought a Maiden album and were so very disappointed with it because Harris & co. had gone disco or had tried to incorporate rap vocals to the music going for a 'modern approach'? But people are still whining out there. This is Maiden. They're doing what they do the best and let me tell you something they're still one of a kind. If you don't like this type of music, well fine. But there's no need to complain. It won't do any good. Maiden has always sounded this way. I myself am a big prog metal fan, but I know what to expect from these guys. I don't go like "They keep repeating themselves over and over again, they're so boring". Iron Maiden is Iron Maiden. They've been this way the last 25 years, so don't expect them to come out playing something absolutely different all of sudden. Metallica changed after 1991. How many of us still like them? Megadeth changed in 1997 only to 'return to their roots' on their next release. Do you want the same thing to happen to Maiden? I certainly don't. Furthermore, Brave New World was a great step in the right direction. The band acually did push the envelope and try to cover some new ground. While some fans were pleased by it, those Powerslave-era fans kept complaining. So here we have a new record that picks up where BNW left off. Apart from the first two songs, the record contains quite a fe 7+ minute songs. "Wildest Dreams", while not as good as BNW's "Wickerman",; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best of: White Lion; Brand: White Lion; Review: "I've run into kids that can play 'Wait' better than I can, but what's the point? Being a technician is only part of the equation, and I'm trying to study the other half--songwriting." said Vito Bratta once. I think this statement makes it quite clear what sets him and his band apart from his contemporaries and the other 80's hard rock/heavy metal bands out there. Vito wrote some of the most melodic, intricate, emotional, poignant songs of all times. His phrasing, as a songwriter, was different from any other guitarist out there and he always attached enormous importance to melody. His tone was one of a kind. It's his tone that made him special along with his fluid and articulate guitar playing to convey his emotions. People have been influenced by his two hand tapping and clear legatos for years. The Best of White Lion was released one year after the band broke up in September 1991. Apart from the three studio albums Pride, Big Game and Mane Attraction released on Atlantic Records it also contains two live songs recorded in 1988 on the band's New York Ritz show. Both songs are from the band's pinnacle of success album Pride: "Lady of the Valley" and "All You Need is Rock'N'Roll". Vito absolutely shines on the solos in both songs and they both exceed their normal running times with 2+ minutes. Mike sounds very emotional, especially in "Lady of the Valley", and the crowd makes themselves heard during the bridge. It must have been a great experience for those who saw that show live. I saw it on the video and it was fantastic! Other than these live tracks, we have the band's biggest hits "When the Children Cry" (the short intro with the acoustic guitar has got to be one of the best musical pieces ever written), "Wait" (I still see people talking about the solo in this song after 16 years of its release) and "Little Fighter" (a tribute to the Rainbow Warrior which was a Green Peace ship sunk in the Gulf War). Also featured is the band's epic Heavy Metal song "Lights and Thunder" with its almost 9 minutes running time and a perfect rendition of the band's first ever song "Broken Heart". "Love Don't Come Easy" which didn't bring them the radio support is also contained on this CD. "Farewell To You", another song off of Mane Attraction, beautifully closes the album. It, however, was a mistake of their label to exclude Vito's magnificent instrumental "Blue Monday" from this best of collection. "Hungry" and "Tell Me" are two other Pride songs we hear on this compilation. Their Big Game album offers "Cry For Freedom", which is a somewhat political song where Mike Tramp depicts his views on racism that was going on in South Africa at the time. The song being longer than the average 4-minute radio hits never got MTV and radio support, thus it couldn't reach the masses. It was these things that made White Lion an "unusual 80's metal band". Their members, with the exception; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Capricorn; Brand: Mike Tramp; Review: Former Mabel, White Lion, and Freak of Nature frontman Mike Tramp emerged with his debut solo album Capricorn in 1997. Mike had originally intended to establish his second band Freak of Nature whom he believed in with all his heart, but when things didn't go as planned, he decided to write and sing as a solo artist as opposed to the vocalist of a band. Capricorn is Mike's star sign. This symbolises that the album has a certain affinity with Mike's inner self. It is, however, on his second and third solo albums where we get to enter his life more and get to see the world through his eyes. Capricorn is more of a balanced record with uptempo songs, ballads, and fun rock songs. It is also the very first album featuring Mike's guitar playing. Mike says he's been playing the guitar ever since he was a kid but his playing didn't really develop much and he does more of the acoustic stuff and plays some rhythm. His friend Kenny Korade from Freak of Nature handles the guitar work with the exception of "Better Off", which was co-written by Oliver Steffensen. Also James Lomenzo, former White Lion bassist, does some harmonies on this CD and he did the artwork and photography of the album as well. Jerry Best (FON bassist) also played on the CD. Basically this is Tramp backed up by his former bandmates writing more radio friendly songs. Is it a success? To a certain extent it is. It contains some really good tunes such as "Here I Don't Belong", "Heart of Every Woman", "Better Off", "Wait Not For Me" and "Love will Come and Go". I personally can't think of a better opening song than "Already Gone" but it doesn't necessarily come off as a very good song in general to me. It is an uptempo tune with some form of energy present in it. "Here I Don't Belong" is possibly one of my three favourite songs here along with "Better Off" (whatever Steffensen touches turns to gold) and "Wait Not For Me". "Have You Ever" is, however, the most personal song on the entire CD. The piano intro combined with Tramp's poetic lyrics and his opening up to us, his fans, is a very brave move in every respect. It is a deep song. It's a song that reflects Tramp's most vulnerable side. It's a song that hurts--both sides: Tramp himself and the fans. And it is a perfect song to hear live. "Better Off" somehow reminds me of a FON song turned into a more radio friendly piece of work. It lyrically depicts how some parents neglect their children and how those children become victims of the society. Very powerful. It's the kind of song Mike wrote a lot during his years in Freak of Nature. Lovely bass line there. The love ballad on this track is "Heart of Every Woman", if you like Tramp ballads you will love this one. "Had I Not Complained" and "Running out of Life", while lyrically satisfying, lose me in; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Critical Mass; Brand: Threshold; Review: Critical Mass, the sixth studio album of British prog metallers Threshold, is the first album ever that features the same line-up with its predecessor, and that is a big plus. Threshold has gone through many changes in their line-up, especially with their vocalists and drummers. They've had three different singers (Damian Wilson, Glynn Morgan and the current Mac), and five different drummers (Tony Grinham, Nick Harradence, Jay Micciche, Mark Heaney, and the current drummer Johanne James). While all of these musicians are very talented in their own way, these changes have affected the band's style to a certain extent and made it somewhat difficult for Karl Groom and Richard West to define the real Threshold sound. So, Critical Mass is the first album that features the same line-up with the previous album Hypothetical, which to many Threshold fans is considered the peak of the band. Hypothetical was an amazing disc in many respects, and Critical Mass is a very good follow-up. However there are slight differences in the approach to songwriting mainly because of Nick Midson's contributions. The last Threshold album where he had input to the compositions was 1994's Psychedelicatessen. And although that is a great album, I feel Critical Mass, compared to its amazing predecessor, somewhat suffers from lack of focused songwriting. While the Karl Groom and Richard West tracks on this CD have the Hypothetical vibe all over them, the other songs with Mac and Midson have a different feel. Not that they're bad, it's just they sound like they're all parts of one big song all arranged into several tracks. I could be wrong though, just my opinion. Guitarist and main songwriter Karl Groom said that Mac's voice was getting better with every release and he's just come to such a position where he actually 'defines' the style of Threshold a great deal now. I quite agree with Groom's assessment. Mac has a very powerful voice, nothing wrong with his performances on Clone and Hypo, but he really seems to know what he's doing on Critical. The double guitar work is once again mindblowing, not in the technical virtuosity sense but in the way that Groom and Midson once again prove that they have breathed new life into this very Dream Theater-driven prog metal genre. The rhythm section provided by Jeary (he's like the Jon Paul Jones of Threshold) and Johanne James is once again stunning. James is definitely the best drummer Threshold has ever had. His playing is tasteful and very well arranged in the mix--not too high and not too low. As for Richard West, the other brainchild of the band, he is once again proving that he is simply put one of the greatest keyboard players in the genre. What makes all of these guys so special is that they know when to stop and when to let themselves loose. It's not like you'll hear a 12-minute instrumental section with lots of guitar and keyboard trade-offs on a Threshold CD. Not that they can't do it, it's just that their songs don't need it. My; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Hour By The Concrete Lake; Brand: ; Review: Pain of Salvation is so much more than just a band name of three words. First of all, the Swedish prog metal band is o r i g i n a l. They are, in my opinion, the first prog metal band since the early-90's that truly managed to impress not only prog listeners but fans of other genres as well. In the 80's we had Queensryche and Fates Warning dominating, in the 90's we had Dream Theater plus a few others paving the way for hundreds of other bands. And today we have Pain of Salvation. If they continue releasing diverse, emotional, chaotic and cerebral albums in this vein, they are going to put their mark on this decade as far as prog metal is concerned. One Hour By The Concrete Lake is their second album, however it was the first to come out in Europe. Their debut Entropia was released in Japan but didn't really get too much critical acclaim in Europe or Stateside--until their second CD One Hour came out. You may be wondering what the title of album stands for. The ideas behind it are some of the most interesting things about this release, especially regarding the radioactivity in Lake Karachay in the former USSR. Most of us might have heard of Chernobyl, for example, because it was very apparent. But learning that a lake covered in concrete had such a high level of radioactivity that it could still kill someone after only an hour standing near it is very appalling to say the least. Daniel Gildenlow, guitarist/vocalist/(main) songwriter of POS, has always been very interested in politics, social injustice, and every other kind of wrong-doing going on in the world. He wrote the concept of One Hour during some International Relations and Nuclear Physics studies he did at school, and at the same time he was also writing a paper on music lyrics' influence on listeners on a social level. Thus, writing and releasing One Hour was also the first album that gave him the courage to believe he could actually spread good messages with music. This is the album where POS realised the potential possibility of changing things through their records. And, isn't that one of the core parts of heavy metal after all? Another reason why they get my utmost respect. The album opens with the short intro "Spirit of the Land" setting the mood and moves on to "Inside" with an excellent keyboard mix that immediately catches your interest and prevents you from concentrating on something else. It is a very well crafted intro accompanied by the rhythm guitars, bass, drums and finally Gildenlow's beyond godly vocal delivery. The first couple of sentences give subtle messages and we gradually begin to realise that One Hour is a very angry album, especially in certain parts: "I was told the pain and hunger was not my fault..." Lyrically the album deals with issues like war, war industry, environment, pollution, Indains. The subtopics derive from the search of a man for the right way of living. POS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beyond Daylight; Brand: Vanden Plas; Review: When I first heard Vanden Plas' second studio album The God Thing, I thought that was the top of the line. It was simply a mindblowing album that blew me away with its content, the amazing musicianship, and cerebral lyrics. While I thought the following album Far Off Grace was still a worthwhile effort, I felt it paled in comparison to its predecessor. But I wasn't disappointed; I just didn't believe they would ever surpass the beauty of The God Thing. But today, after having listened to Beyond Daylight for almost a year, I am eating my words. This is the best prog metal album of 2002 after Pain of Salvation's Remedy Lane (which is another masterpiece in its own league). Beyond Daylight is an album wonderfully easy to enjoy. Fans who know nothing of Vanden Plas or prog metal can still be drawn into this album after hearing only a few songs. But there is more to this wonderful album. The further it is explored the more it offers. One thing that definitely shows is the steady line-up of the band. They have consistently stayed together and have matured greatly over the years. Keyboardist Gunter Werno is the only member who has been involved in outside projects if I'm not mistaken. He has played on a live Kamelot album, DC Cooper's solo album, a rock opera called Missa Mercuria (along with the other Vanden Plas guys) and Section A's The Seventh Sign. And, he shines on each and every one of these CDs. Vocalist Andy Kuntz, having co-written the whole album with Lill, plays central role in all the songs. His vocals sit right in the centre of the tracks defining the current Vanden Plas sound. He seems to be in perfect form with his sometimes warm and sometimes aggressive vocals. He uses his voice as a great texture to layer over the perfectly performed instruments. The band behind him are also amazing. Stephan Lill's guitar playing has since day one appealed to the fans. He was obviously influenced by the 80's guitarists very heavily, but his phrasing is very progressive and fluid. He has a very fitting tone to the music. His solos are razor sharp, yet still contain a lot of melody and warmth. He has tremendous technique but doesn't necessarily put it on the forefront every second. The solo in the second song "Cold Wind" is one of the most fitting guitar solos I've heard in years. His riffs have tonnes of crunch that flirts with suggestive melodies. But it's not just Andy and Stephan that come to mind when the name Vanden Plas is uttered. Actually, the rest of the band is equally amazing, crafting unbelievable musicianship, blending their styles into one form that eventually defines the current Vanden Plas sound. Gunter Werno knows exactly when to restrain himself with the keys and when to let himself loose. He plays some of the most beautifully complex keyboard solos to accompany Lill and bassist Reichert I lack words to explain it to you. His piano renditions are also; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Devil's Hall of Fame; Brand: Beyond Twilight; Review: The year 2001 was the highlight of noted vocalist Jorn Lande's career. He simply peaked that year with three different and amazing albums: Ark - Burn The Sun, his sophomore solo effort Worldchanger, and Beyond Twilight - The Devil's Hall of Fame. After his short-lived touring with guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen, there was little left to do for him to prove himself in the current music scene. I have one thing to say about Jorn Lande. He is without a shadow of doubt one of the best, most amazing, distinctive vocalists of today. His voice is world class, rich, and spans a quite large range. He can go from singing very calm and smoothly to a very gritty and aggressive style, which he perfectly exhibits on The Devil's Hall of Fame. So, if you're only familiar with his earlier hard rock driven back catalog such as The Snakes, his first solo album and the s/t Ark debut, his stuff with Vagabond (a Norwegian hard rock band featuring TNT guitarist LeTekro), the melodic hard rock/metal band Millenium, or Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradmus (with Joe Lynn Turner), I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Because this album is the most aggressive album in his entire career. His singing is incredibly assertive yet still soulful. Beyond Twilight, while a new name, was actually formed back in 1992. Their original name was Twilight and they had a different singer, namely Anders Engberg, who joined Lion's Share and then Section A respectively. Also, although most people recognise Beyond Twilight as "one of Jorn Lande's bands", the main man behind the band is Finn Zierler. He plays the keys, provides backing vocals, and (co)-writes each and every song. All eight tracks on The Devil's Hall of Fame were written by Zierler and Lande, except the two instrumentals which were both composed by Zierler himself. The keyboards are very subtle and suggestive through the entire album. Right from the first song "Hellfire" they set the mood and define the ultimate direction of the record. Zieler's trade mark tone is widely prevalant on all the songs and they are very distinctive in all the arrangements. The guitars are also amazing, but no where near as subtle as Lande's vocals and Zierler's keyboards. Anders Lindgren lays down the bass and ex-Twilight drummer Tomas Freden sits behind the skins. Both of them provide fitting rhythm sections, but like I said, the main standout aspects of the album are Lande's killer vocals and the masterfully crafted keyboards and compositions. Tommy Hansen, mostly known for his work with Helloween, handled the production duties and he pulled off a flawless job. Excellent mix of instrumentation and perfect clear production! He also produced Lande's Worldchanger. The album itself is based on a quite interesting storyline, though I don't pay as much attention to it as I do to the beautiful compositions and Lande's vocals. The concept is about a man who uses a computer to hack into his own mind and explore the disconnected parts of his spirit. As he enters his mind, he is awfully shocked; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Burn The Sun; Brand: Ark; Review: Like I mentioned it a few days ago in my review for Beyond Twilight - The Devil's Hall of Fame, I will repeat myself regarding Norwegian vocal god Jorn Lande. The year 2001 saw him rising to the peak of his career with three different albums all of which offer something unique. Ark's Burn The Sun happens to be my favourite album with Lande ever, though I also think his vocal performance on the Beyond Twilight album is incredible. What sets Burn The Sun apart from 99% of the other prog metal albums released in the last 10 years must be the influences it borrows from progressive music. As opposed to creating an album with technical prowess in the forefront, Tore Ostby (ex-Conception), John Macaluso (Yngwie Malmsteen), Jorn Lande (Beyond Twilight, Masterplan), Mats Olausson (Lion's Share) and Randy Coven (CPR, Holy Mother) have taken their influences mostly from the 80's incorporating them with new, fresh ideas from the progressive metal genre. The result is a very one of a kind record: Burn The Sun. The reason why everyone praises it to no end is because Burn The Sun takes an unusual musical path to express itself. Its refined production with crystal clear vocals, thundering bass, and perfect drumming is jaw dropping. Tore Ostby, the amazing guitar virtuoso, plays very tasteful guitar rhythms and solos never overstepping the limits; he knows when to restrain himself and when to impress the listener with his beautifully complex songwriting. I lack words to describe Jorn Lande's singing. He is a phenomenal vocalist, perhaps one of the very best singers to emerge in the 90's. He is so versatile, one minute he sings like David Coverdale and another he shifts to a raspy tone that sounds like none other than Jorn Lande. I think this album was the pinnacle of his success as a singer that proved his talents to the entire rock world. He even toured with Yngwie Malmsteen, and those of you who know how picky Yngwie is when it comes to choosing a vocalist for his band, I think you get the picture. If you've never heard of Lande before, I think this album would be the best starting point for you. I feel there's a great chemistry between all the members here; together they all take full advantage of playing in a prog band. They explore with longer, more complex compositions and cerebral/emotional lyrics. They use keyboards as a texture to fill the gap between the instruments, and Macaluso proves to be one of the greatest drummers the rock community will ever hear. His tone here is one of the best tones to have ever been recorded. Almost half the songs kick off with his majestic drum beats supported by Randy Coven's bass. Coven has been one of my favourite bassists ever since I heard his CPR record in 1992 along with guitar virtuoses such as Al Pitrelli, Zakk Wylde, Vito Bratta and Steve Morse. He plays slap bass in some songs, and I love slap bass. It's fiery, exciting, and very fitting; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: X Factor; Brand: Iron Maiden; Review: So it was 1995 when The X Factor came out, almost three years after its predecessor Fear of the Dark, which was by some criticised as a sub-standard Maiden disc. As we all know, a lot hapened within this time. The voice of Maiden, a true vocal god, Bruce Dickinson, left and was replaced by Wolfsbane singer Blaze Bayley. It became a rather controversial issue whether he was the correct choice, especially considering all the vocalists that had expressed interest in the slot. But Steve Harris fell quite some distant off the mark with his attempt to bring Maiden a new musical approach; with a new singer, a new label, an unusual artwork, and a somewhat new sound. The biggest problem on this disc is not Blaze (though he plays a major rule in this as well), it's Steve Harris' horrible production work! The terrible mix which you wouldn't even hear on a demo tape. And the atrocious recording. With a singer trying to imitate Bruce Dickinson (because of Steve Harris) and uninspired and cliche songwriting formulas it was inevitable that "the Blaze era" would suck. Is Blaze a good singer? Yes. Do I like his stuff with Wolfsbane and his two solo albums? Yes. I actually think Silicon Messiah is a fantastic record. Check out the title song and "Identity" and they'll prove you that Blaze has a great voice that he can utilize to the best of his advantage if he is offered the chance. But what happened on The X Factor? Steve basically said that Maiden was developing their sound, going for a more concise style, aiming to catalog darker lyrical themes such as death, war, and religion. Sounds pretty good, but don't you think you ought to back up your original ideas with the music?! Where is the goddamn music?! Yeah Steve is and has always been the main composer. But how come he lost his creativity on those two Blaze albums? Allowing Blaze to write lyrics was cool, but as a producer, trying to make him sound like the one and only Bruce Dickinson shall forever remain a disgrace in the Iron Maiden history! Just check out the opening song "Sign of the Cross", a great song structurally covering new ground. But give a listen to Blaze's first vocal line and tell me he isn't struggling to sound like Bruce! Whose fault is it? Blaze's? To a certain extent yes. Steve's? There's practically no doubt on my mind about it. He should instead haven given Blaze his room, to fit in his own character. His own style. Like Bruce did when he replaced Di'Anno. Blaze on the other hand should have refused to try to imitate a vocal god of Dickinson's calibre. He is literrally struggling when he attempts to do the lower registered singing. The intro of the opening song is hardly audible, therefore it makes you crank up your stereo--just to hear what he's singing. Then all of a sudden, Steve's bass goes off and bang! WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING WHEN THEY RECORDED; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Manifesto For Futurism; Brand: Dali's Dilemma; Review: I think Salvador Dali would be proud if he heard Dali's Dilemma. This band, just like Salvador Dali, creates art without limits. They are very expressive and constantly explore new ground. Needless to say it's a fitting name, since Dali, despite being a very good surrealist painter, had a cult following. And as Dali's Dilemma is a prog band, no matter how good and experimental they are, they will never appeal to the masses becoming a part of popular culture. And they don't have to. It's best to let those who can appreciate art beauty be exposed to this CD. Manifesto for Futurism is their only album and an excellent one at that. I don't care about the never-ending Dream Theater comparisons; I've heard so many DT-influenced bands over the years that I feel, even if the guys in Dali's Dilemma were influenced by them, at least they managed to pull it off successfully. The worst thing you could do to a piece of art is writing it off or degrading it by naming it a rip-off, Manifesto for Futurism is so much more than that. Like many of their contemporaries they do have their influences, but it is my opinion that they have managed to blend them all seamlessly and the final outcome is the current sound of Dali's Dilemma. Furthermore not many bands come out with such strong debut albums. I feel ashamed that it took me so long to check this album out, for I feel I've missed out--a lot. Additionally, Dream Theater is just one of the many bands that has had some impact on these talented guys. I hear a good dose of Rush, some Deep Purple and Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen, Pink Floyd, and even U2. It's no wonder that they played on tribute albums of two of these bands (Rush, Pink Floyd). Some old Queensryche and Fates Warning also seems to have been buried in their compositions. How can a band with such amazing influences disappoint when they each member is also technically advanced? So Manifesto for Futurism doesn't let the listener down. On the contrary it's an album that asks you to play it over and over again, cause there's something about their songs that simply demand your attention. Drummer Jeremy Colson has fast wrists and his rolls are produced excellently, besides his neat tone, his rolls pan from left to right on the speakers, so it's a great feeling when you listen to the album with headphones. More than half of the songs kick off with his sometimes fiery and sometimes laid back drumming and they're quite central to the music. Another unusual quality is Steve Reyes' bass work. While America has always produced the best bassists, unfortunately most of the bass in prog music has usually been mixed too low (John Myung anyone?), but Reyes doesn't conform. I don't know if that's because he's a founding member or because he too realised it was about time to bring more life to the rhythm of the music. The singer has got to be one; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nightingale; Brand: Nightingale; Review: Nightingale's Alive Again is the fourth and last album of their everlasting concept storyline. Released in random order, Alive Again is both chronologically and storywise the last album of the series that seals the end of this amazing piece of work. Dan Swano will now work on a new album that has different motives lyrically. Nightingale is an incredible band. It started out as Dan Swano's solo project after the break-up of Unicorn and gradually began to develop with the addition of Dan's older brother, Tom Nouga, and eventually a new bassist and drummer too. The first album was completely Dan Swano, the second one was Dan and his brother, the third one showed signs of promise and the Swano brothers toured and played several gigs. And now Alive Again has turned into a completely different entity with the inclusion of bassist Erik Oskarsson (Godsend) and drummer Tom Bjorn. Erik and Dan also played in the amazing doom metal band Godsend together and they certainly have a great chemistry between them. Tom Bjorn on the other hand is simply a fantastic drummer and a well needed breath of fresh air. He plays tastefully, enters the songs with beautiful (but modest) fills and rolls. Considering that the debut Nightingale had a drum machine and the other two featured Dan Swano himself on the drums, Bjorn's addition to the band has brought a new vibe, which I really dig. Tom Nouga is a very 80's inspired guitar player and Alive Again is the first album that gave him the opportunity to play those 70's-like riffs in a more 80's style. Excellent. I'm not saying that AA is my favourite Nightingale album but I know that Dan Swano has managed to put out four albums under this moniker, all of which are different from each other. Isn't that what prog music is about? The Closing Chronicles was a monumental CD in (dark) prog rock as was I with a more concise sound. Alive Again, on the other hand, goes for a more lively sound, more energetic, more exciting. The sound on the previous CD was a bit dry; it's a great album and I love it, but AA definitely has a more fresh tone overall. Maybe it's the hard rock vibe, maybe it's the heavier 80's sound rather than the 70's, I don't know. It's really hard to put your finger on it. The songs are still progressive all the way; Dan would never make sacrifices in that aspect. But the writing is more forthright. The choruses are more central and focal. The writing is sort of more cohesive and controlled. Maybe it's because Part IV was the first and only Nightingale album Dan Swano took a whole year to write, record, and mix. This album displays a more carefully planned sound, both sonically and stylistically. Therefore you may think that the previous Nightingale CDs The Closing Chronicles and I were more written in free form, pushing the limits of art. AA is different. It's not meant to be a groundbreaking effort; it's not meant; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Purgatory Afterglow; Brand: Edge of Sanity; Review: Purgatory Afterglow is Edge of Sanity's fourth album after The Spectral Sorrows. It is when the band started to push the form of death metal by constantly trying to be innovative, experimental, and progressive. That is what set them apart from all the other contemporaries. Unfortunately they were always overshadowed by other Swedish acts, most of whom, in my opinion, were no where near as talented as EOS. Purgatory Afterglow marks the highpoint of the band's career. Crimson, the 40-minute one-song album, was the excellent follow-up to it and proved that EOS would become one of the most important, daring, and innovative death metal bands of the 90's! The two key elements, which are common characteristics of the band's mastermind Dan Swano, are real death metal riffs mixed up with strong and solid melodies. The riffs, as opposed to their first three albums, are more sublime riffs, but Swano carefully injects the strongest melodies into each and every second creating his unique death metal sound. This is not what so many people tend to call Gothenburg or anything. This is the purest form of DEATH METAL with unforgettable melodies, killer guitar riffs, heavy bass rhythms and pounding drum beats! Not to mention Dan Swano's vocals of course. He is without a doubt one of my favourite growlers ever! I think what I love about this disc so much is the pure, honest emotion in Dan's voice, in addition to the dark and complex yet very melodic atmosphere of the music. Dan Swano has such a broad musical vision and truly embraces so many different styles. He is progressive simply in a much different way than most progressive purists would think qualifies as fitting to the concept and ideals of what "progressive" music should sound like. One thing no one would deny is that Edge of Sanity has showed a lot of growth and a clear evolution from album to album always trying to cover new ground, and never repeating themselves. EOS has been more progressive in terms of what the word means today--playing fast, technical, crazy time changes, etc. Not that Dan isn't capable of it. He would prove that as well on his solo album Moontower four years after Purgatory Afterglow. (Moontower is still one of my favourite albums of all time by any band.) "Twilight" is the first and longest song of the album which kicks in with an atmospheric keyboard intro shocking you there for a moment. Considering that their first three albums were much more straight-forward you're speechless for a moment. But then the speedy thrash runs with powerful riffs begin to set the mood and Dan's aggressive yet melodic death grunts allow you to sit back and enjoy the content of this disc. Riffs. Melodies. Grunts. Riffs. Melodies. Grunts. Fiery drumming kicking in and taking a break. Wow! There's no real chorus but the song manages to stick in your mind: memorable. This thing has the trademark EOS feel all over it. That's the vibe I get whenever I play their stuff with their classic line-up consisting; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crimson; Brand: Edge of Sanity; Review: When people think of the most influential death metal bands and albums, they will almost always mention Possessed's Seven Churches, Death's Leprosy, Morbid Angel's Alters of Madness, Carnage's Dark Recollections, Carcass' Symphonies of Sickness, Cynic's Focus, Atheist's Piece of Time, Entombed's Left Hand Path, Suffocation's Pierced from Within, At the Gates' first two albums... etc. But for some strange reason Edge of Sanity's Crimson is overlooked. It may be true that Crimson might not have changed the direction of the genre on a very high scale, but no one can deny that this album has breathed new life into the overblown death metal scene in the 90's when every other band prefered to walk in the footsteps of their pioneers. Dan Swano had the will and courage to create something different, namely a one-track album with a running time of 40+ minutes instead of copy-cating whatever was 'the big thing' in 1996. Having recorded and produced tons of bands and also the first two Opeth albums including songs like "Black Rose Immortal" it is no wonder why he was so independent-minded, bold, intelligent and independent to experiment with his music. Dan has always looked for different ways to express himself and with Crimson he proved to be one of the most creative artists of the decade. Crimson is definitely Edge of Sanity's most lauded recording to date. Although Dan has mentioned that he thinks the Unorthodox album is by far his favourite and Crimson was recorded when the band was in a very bad state, I still consider it a true masterpiece! It easily paved the way for so many other bands with its rich content and song structures which simply refuse to compromise. The music is very experimental borrowing lots of elements from the 70's and blending them seamlessly with the fundamental parts of death metal. Dan uses both his death and clean vocals, and also Mike from Opeth does some killer death grunts to bring this 40-minute CD more depth and life. This album features very melodic and intricate riffs including acoustic passages and unexpected key and tempo changes. Generally most death metal releases focus on destruction and single-minded fury, but Crimson isn't afraid to lend itself to various other pursuits. It delivers consistent musical and lyrical themes from beginning to end. I doubt Dan Swano and his friends in EOS were aware of the fact that they were pushing the limits of death metal to unfathomable artistic heights when they were recording this CD. I'm glad they did because even after 8 years of its release I still love playing it and enjoy every second on it. Dan recently put out a sequel to Crimson which is also highly recommended not to mention his solo album Moontower, and his more prog rock driven projects Nightingale and Unicorn, all of which are intense, poignant, bold, and independent works of art.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Queensryche; Brand: Queensrche; Review: Isn't it cool how a 4-song demo recorded at Scott Rockenfield's parents' home basement back in 1982 has led to all of this--the birth of one of the greatest and most influential bands of all times? What makes me even happier is that they have finally decided to remix this debut EP with a great production that shines from beginning to end. The self-titled EP was understandably overshadowed by the band's following releases, however now with the addition of live tracks and a top notch mix, everything sounds much better. Considering Queensryche's current musical direction, I think I've done a great choice picking this reissue up. It was like going back to the old days when Queensryche was the best and most important prog metal band of the 80's along with Fates Warning and the not so popular Crimson Glory. Vocalist Geoff Tate was considered a true hero and vocal god and paved the way for thousands of other singers who were more than eager to follow his footsteps. I lack words to describe the joy in explaining how great it feels to hear songs like "Queen of the Reich", "Blinded", and "The Lady Wore Black" again, with flawless production quality. With the exception of "The Lady..." the other three songs on this EP never got the attention they deserved. It's hard to be noticed when a band constantly puts out quality material like The Warning, Rage for Order, and the masterpiece Operation: Mindcrime. Nevertheless I happen to think that this is a truely majestic debut EP with a lot of potential. Its only weak point was the production which now sounds lightyears better. The drums have a great punch to them and the guitar and bass work complement each other perfectly. Geoff Tate's vocals contain a lot power, energy, and emotion. Chris DeGarmo, to this day, is one of my favourite songwriters ever. His emphasis on melody and the articulation he puts behind his playing is beyond this world. The solo on "Blinded" is particularly to my liking. The dual attacks accompanied by the drums is very moving. Queensryche weren't really "prog" when they released this, but it clearly hinted that they were onto something here and would become one of the pioneers of the genre in the upcoming years and decaded. Which they successfully did. Needless to say, this is very highly recommended. One of the best reissues that you must own if you like Queensryche. The extra tracks are worth it as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Purgatory Afterglow; Brand: Edge of Sanity; Review: Unlike the Gothenburg scene dominated by bands like In Flames and Dark Tranquillity, Edge of Sanity led by Dan Swano was a band that stuck more to the roots of American death metal combining it with Swano's musical vision, which is putting as much emphasis on melody as possible. Furthermore his songwriting refuses to compromise stylistically as he was deeply influenced by 70's and 80's prog rock (speaking of which, his solo album Moontower is possibly his greatest work to date). Dan's indepedent-minded approach to creating original compositions along with cerebral lyrics suggest that Edge of Sanity was definitely a much better band compared to their contemporaries. It's a shame they went unnoticed by many death metal fans until their masterpiece Crimson which unfortunately was written when the band members were on bad terms with each other. This eventually would led to Dan's departure in 1997 and we wouldn't hear another EOS album featuring him on vocals for more than five years. Back to Purgatory Afterglow... I consider this one a perfect transition album from the band's older American death metal style to their more prog-driven motives. Musically this album shows a lot of potential growth and maturity in the way that it balances power, anger, lyrical depth, and musical complexity almost perfectly. Considering that Dan was only 21 when he wrote this album, this is a great piece of work. The sharp intelligence, clear vision, and genuine warmth in every song on this album proves that Purgatory Afterglow is a sadly overlooked offering from one of the most underrated (yet amazing) death metal bands ever. Also feel free to check out my more in-depth review for this album on Amazon [Purgatory Afterglow].; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sham Mirrors; Brand: Arcturus; Review: Before I start with the review for The Sham Mirrors, let me point out that the only other Arcturus CD I own is Aspera Hiems Symfonia, which is a fairly good album. I first heard it about two years ago and thought it was a much needed change the black metal genre needed. But to put it frankly it didn't me make me go out and pick up the rest of their catalog right away. I thought they were a good band, especially for a black metal band, since as opposed to expressing single-minded fury and having your singer scream at the top of his lungs, they knew to keep things well-balanced. The songwriting seemed their strongest aspect. Anyway now that I've obtained a copy of The Sham Mirrors, their last album as I type this review, I think over the years there has been a lot of change in the band's musical approach. Both musically and production wise. I can understand why some die-hard black metal fans don't like this one as Arcturus have moved away from their black metal roots aiming to cover some new ground. Apart from "Radical Cut" which features Emperor singer Ihsahn there are no scream vocals on this CD. Sure lots of bands have changed their style for the worse; even bands like Ulver and Samael's current endeavours don't appeal to me much compared with their earlier work, but for some reason, I consider Arcturus' new style very fresh and very progressive. And I think The Sham Mirrors is a fantastic effort in the way that it offers so many new musical ideas without overusing them. There are a wide range of ingredients available on this disc, and it's just brilliant. Although the band has shifted towards a more progressive style, dropping some of their earlier black metal characteristics, they are not afraid to borrow some key elements from the genre. The drumming is still very fiery, fast, and relentless at times, just the way black metal drumming should be. The keyboards (and piano) never fail to provide the evil atmosphere without getting too over the top. Actually the keyboard textures and song arrangements are what make this CD so special. I really like the classical background the keyboard player possesses; strange but it reminds me of the stuff Wakeman would play on some of his solo albums. The band has employed liberal keys which serve to maintain the dark atmosphere and keep things in unity. The guitar work is pushed slightly in the back but it is vastly audible when necessary. The solos in songs like "Nightmare Heaven" and "Star-Crossed" are spectacular! They are accompanied perfectly by the drums and mostly by keys almost through the entire CD. The vocals are mostly clear but Garm also uses his semi-operatic vocals which serve his purpose flawlessly. Furthermore the singing on this album is used just as another instrument. They sure have their own place and are used only when necessary. Arcturus have decided to let their music speak on The Sham Mirrors and use vocal harmonies; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ocean Machine; Brand: Devin Townsend; Review: Even though I own every solo album of Townsend and a few SYL discs, it is important to note that I am still in the very early stages of digesting his writing. I've listened to all of his albums quite a few times but not enough to compare the rest of his catalog with his debut effort Ocean Machine, which is the one and only Townsend disc I've been wearing out as of late. I remember listening to this the first couple of times and being shocked. I couldn't grasp it and had a hard time understanding what was so special about his music. But after giving it some time, with several spins every once in a while, the music began to slowly sink in. This has got to be the one of the most difficult pieces of music ever written to put into words. Maybe it's because it doesn't sound like anything else I've heard before, maybe it's because of its experimental attitude. I really don't know. What I know, however, is that I absolutely love Ocean Machine in more than one respect. The album consists of many layers, all of which catalog various musical and lyrical ideas. Upon lifting one layer, you find a new one that has a lot more to offer. The music is very rich in content; it shows that Townsend is an extremely talented musician. The production work is masterfully crafted. Devin is a very independent-minded artist; I honestly don't believe any record label would ever release this. That is probably why Devin began his own label (HevyDevy): to liberate himself from restrictions and experiment with new and fresh musical ideas. Thus, the outcome is very innovative and sublime. There is a general dark and brooding atmosphere that surrounds every song, but not in a negative way. His music is far from depressing, it's just that he obviously likes to reflect the darker side of life. The album generally catalogs lyrical themes such as loneliness, despair, love, and it documents Towsend's emotional state vividly. It is like a diary that gives the listener a glimpse into the many facets of his inner world. Although each song stands on its own, they all make a unified statement giving the impression that there was a very strong sense of unity during the creation of this album. Musically the album entails various elements that refuse to acquiesce. They are virtually impossible to categorise, but some distinguishing characteristics include avant-garde influences, odd instrumentation, dark lyrics, unusual compositional structures, and a secret rejection of commercialism. As much as the playing on this album tends to display a minimalist approach, the compositions vary a lot with effective key and tempo changes. Devin Townsend's vocals range from very smooth to almost harsh growls, although the latter is kept to a minumum, since the songs really don't need any aggressive vocal harmonies. I think this is one of those albums you need to listen to from beginning to end since every song has a purpose to serve. Therefore it is difficult to choose favourites; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Biomech; Brand: Devin Townsend; Review: I already wrote an in-depth review for Devin Townsend's solo debut Ocean Machine a few days ago; but as I also own his Biomech album, which is the same CD with a bonus track, I thought I'd drop a few lines about the last song "Thing Beyond Things". Unlike the rest of the album the song has a much different sonic quality and it is quite easy to tell that it was put on the disc as a bonus track. It begins with a nice acoustic intro and features Devin's 'normal' vocals if you know what I mean. Devin Townsend is known for his unique style, different approach to songwriting, and combining various elements to make a song sound completely different from anything else. Interestingly enough, "Thing Beyond Things" is, by Devin Townsend's standards, an exception. The overall tone doesn't change much and there aren't as many odd time signatures. Still, Devin doesn't fail to shock you with an unusual scream right at the end, which is a very unexpected shift of vocals on his part. It's a good song on its own merits, but I can't say it goes too well with the rest of the tracks on Ocean Machine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twist of Fate; Brand: John Arch; Review: I don't think anything important has been left unmentioned in all these wonderful reviews. It seems we are all in agreement about John Arch's long-awaited debut solo album. After recording Fates Warning's excellent album Awaken the Guardian, Arch decided to take a break, which unfortunately was a bit of a too long an absence. Many vocalists have come and gone after Arch, but few, VERY few, of them have had the same impact. John Arch simply has a godly status in prog metal, and he deserves every bit of it. When I first learned that Arch had finally decided to make a return with this two-track EP, everything in my life took a second seat as I played this brilliant CD the first 15-20 times. I didn't know how to feel; should I be filled with joy that Arch is still one of the greatests singers in any genre of metal ever or regret that we had to miss out on him the past two decades? Unlike most of his contemporaries like Geoff Tate from Queensryche or Midnight from Crimson Glory, John's voice is still at its best, and I just can't believe this guy hasn't sung professionlly since the mid-80's. How is it even possible to keep your voice in such good shape despite all these years that have passed? I am now fully convinced that John Arch was made to sing forever... his godly voice is surely one of the most influential voices ever. Period. Don't be put off by the number of tracks on this EP. Although there are only two songs on A Twist of Fate, we get a running time of nearly 30 minutes. The first track clocks in at over 12 minutes and was co-written by Arch and his former bandmate Jim Matheos, thus displaying Arch's proggy roots. We are offered his unbelievable scream right off the bat which puts a smile on our faces reminding us of the old days. After Arch, there have been countless singers that emerged with a high vocal range. Many of them are able to hold their voice too long and scream their lungs out. But NONE of them can scream so melodically as Arch. And I mean it: there is NO other singer that can wail at the top of his voice and still manage to catch your ear with the strongest melodies dripping. That is how John delivers "Relentless" with lots of key and tempo changes as well as fantastic musicianship backing him up. The song is slightly reminiscent of Fates Warning though more with Arch's vocals being the centrepiece. And that's cool since this is John Arch; not Fates Warning or Dream Theater or another band for that matter. It feel more like his work too. While writing these songs, Arch must have focused his power on turning his dreams into reality. It's like he too missed his fans and wanted to give them his all. The second track "Cheyenne" is a 100% John Arch creation and relies more on vocals. The music takes a back seat; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gutter Ballet; Brand: Savatage; Review: After 1987's successful album Hall of the Mountain King, Savatage established themselves as a strong and remarkable band for years to come. Gutter Ballet being the second album with producer Paul O'Neill, it marked the beginning of a completely new era for them. Although HOTMK hinted that they were onto something new, with Gutter Ballet it was clear that the Oliva brothers and Paul O'Neill had something completely different on their minds. When Jon, Criss, and Paul joined forces probably not even they could imagine where the Savatage legacy would lead them. Eventually Savatage would take their place in the history of heavy metal as one of the most original, haunting, ground-breaking, and emotionally devastating bands of all times. Originally, the working title for this album was Hounds of Zaroff. Till the last minute, Jon and Criss were planning to title it either Hounds of Zaroff or Temptation Revelation, which is one of the instrumental tracks on the album. The song "Gutter Ballet" hadn't been composed yet, and there was no intention whatsoever to experiment with such musical ideas either. Everything suddenly changed when Jon's manager Jon Goldwater gave him a ticket to see the "Phantom of the Opera" at the theatre. The minute Jon saw it, his vision on songwriting changed drastically. He composed the intro of "Gutter Ballet" the same night he saw the show, and the song was one of the last to make it on the album. Isn't it incredible how one of the band's most important tracks was created almost on a whim? That soothing piano intro with poignant orchestral enhancements, cerebral lyrics, searing vocals, and a fitting guitar solo all made a trademark song that would eventually serve to define Savatage's trademark sound. If you are more familiar with Savatage's more recent concept albums all following interesting storylines, I think it is important to note that Gutter Ballet is not a concept album. Still, the ending trilogy consisting of "Mentally Yours", "Summer's Rain" and "Thorazine Shuffle" has strong lyrical bounds. All of them were written when vocalist Jon Oliva came out of alcohol and drug rehab. The ending trilogy is about a man called Timmy, who Jon and Criss knew from the band's earlier days. Timmy was a really disturbed and sick person. He was eventually found dead of an overdose in real life, which truly affected Jon. Gutter Ballet was also much inspired by Jon's real life three-day stay in a mental asylum before the doctors realised he needed drug rehab. During Sava's long HOTMK tour with Megadeth and Dio, Jon had a breakdown from exhaustion and drug use. So in this aspect the storyline of this trilogy arguably stems from a very personal experience. After his short stay at the mental asylum he was moved to the Betty Ford Clinic where he was roommates with Eric Clapton. I think the song "Thorazine Shuffle" makes indirect references in a twisted way about both Timmy and Jon Oliva himself. Gutter Ballet is a transition album from Sava's old heavy metal roots to the more prog-driven new; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Working Man A Tribute; Brand: Various Artists; Review: I know most Rush fans hate this tribute album; some claim the music is too heavy, some say it doesn't sound like Rush, and some think no one should cover this band. Well, I don't know. Rush is a great band. I absolutely worship them, particularly their 70's to mid-80's stuff, but on the other hand, I can't understand the kind of fans who think they possess this band, and anyone who attempts to bring something new to the table is bashed violently. I've been listening to Rush for years now but see nothing wrong with some very prolific prog musicians offering us their interpretations. No one can deny that more than half of these musicians grew up listening to Rush and probably even picked up their instruments because of Lee, Peart or Lifeson. So why the hate? There are so many terrible tribute albums out there because sometimes the bands on it don't even know how to play the songs right, but on Working Man, we have tons of talented artists who are more than capable of delivering the tunes--in their own way. The songs on this disc don't sound like classic Rush, but that's exactly why I dig them. I've been spinning this CD for over two years now and actually consider it a very worthy addition to my record collection. I'm not too big on tribute albums, but this one's really good. It's got the groove, the spirit, the energy, the progressiveness and the intimacy of the band Rush we all love. I honestly don't think it would have exceeded my expectations if Billy Sheehan had tried to emulate Geddy Lee and Mike Portnoy just imitated Neil Peart. Stu Hamm's bass lines are amazing, Deen Castronovo plays with taste, as always. Then we also have Sean Malone and Sean Reinert of Cynic and Gordian Knot. All of these musicians are extemely tight rhythm sections in their own bands. James Murphy is a phenomenal guitar player and I was actually very amused to hear him playing Rush solos. The Canadian singers Sebastian Bach, James Labrie and one of my current favourites Devin Townsend all do a great job. Not that their work needs any justification. We also have singers from the 80's including Eric Martin of Mr Big and Jack Russell of Great White. Ray Alder of Fates Warning and Mike Baker of Shadow Gallery also add the songs their own share of personality. Some of the guitar players here are John Petrucci, George Lynch, Jim Matheos, Michael Romeo, Marcel Coenen, Jake E. Lee and Steve Morse. Keyboardists are Michael Pinella of Symphony X, Trent Gardner, and Matt Guillory of Dali's Dilemma & Zero Hour. Long-time Rush producer Terry Brown has done an enormous job mixing Working Man and no one could do a better jon than the guy who mixed the original versions of this stuff. A detailed explanation is given in the CD booklet as to who plays in which track so I'm not going there. I really enjoy this work from beginning to end. I have to; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Physicist; Brand: Devin Townsend; Review: Physicist has always been voted the least favourite Devin Townsend solo album among the fans on both the official DT and SYL boards. Although very strong in its own right, I guess I can see why it is not right up there with the likes of Ocean Machine, Terria and Infinity. The core SYL fans, however, seem to lean towards this disc more than any other solo material from Devin. Basically on Physicist Devin, for the first time, did not experiment with as many new ideas and push his music in more unexplored directions. This album kind of sounds like a lighter version of Strapping Young Lad but still has the ambient and classic Townsend vibe to it. Overall it's very speed metal oriented with slight modern touches thrown in. Devin himself agrees that Physicist is a stripped down version of something that was already there, but for someone who's never heard any SYL before, it is safe to say he's in for a treat because in the end Physicist does sound different from Devin's other albums. It's faster, angrier and more in your face. This was also the first album where Devin was able to reach a wider fanbase due to the widespread distro support. The album still presents Devin's body of work with more accessible sensibilities. It's like if someone has never heard any Devin Townsend stuff before and picks up Infinity or Terria they may be shocked. Physicist isn't that way. That's what sets it apart from the rest of Devin's catalog. It has the potential to click with you right from the start. To be honest I listen to this album the least often because every other solo album from Devin is more appealing to me. They're more experimental, more progressive and offer more depth. When I'm in the mood for some heavier stuff, I usually prefer SYL's City or their last one. Also of note is that Devin was going through a very hard time writing this album. It got to the point that releasing the disc turned into a real big mess. And I believe all of this has reflected on the record. I'm not putting Physicist down or anything because it's still 100% Devin Townsend and a very deep album, just not on the same level as Terria and Ocean Machine to me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Damnation; Brand: Opeth; Review: Damnation is Opeth's "mellow album" that was spoken of a lot during the release of their previous disc Deliverance. When plans to release both discs at the same time failed, Damnation was released separately which was a wise move in my opinion. Reason being, if it had come out as a double album it would have gotten compared to the heavier album way too much and also it would have been a bit difficult to listen to the album at one go. As a separate release, Damnation stands on its own and has its own traits. And, that's definitely what it deserves. This is a different Opeth album. It is also most likely going to stay that way as Mike Akerfeldt has pointed out several times that, in the future, they are going to explore different directions incorporating both their heavy death metal roots and the softer moments. The album is mostly acoustic and demonstrates Opeth's softer sides without ever relying on their heavier and more aggressive style. Hence, the originality and uniqueness of Damnation. For so long I always wondered what it would sound like if Opeth did an all acoustic record with Mike's almost angelic clean vocals, I always believed it would draw a lot of fans' attention, including those who do not listen to metal but only the late-60's and early-70's psychedelic and progressive rock releases. On Damnation, Opeth delivers its earlier 70's roots utilizing mellotrons and post-psychedelic atmospherics of bands like Camel, Yes and King Crimson. Some of the songs like "In My Time of Need" even employ similar production techniques thanks to Steven Wilson that is reminiscent of the old 70's LPs. Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree is once again at the helm of production and needless to say he's done a flawless job. It feels like he and the Opeth guys understand each other perfectly. Although the tunes are still penned by Mikael himself, the final touches of Steven Wilson are undeniable. Apparently the mellotron work and some of the atmospheric keyboard textures are his creations. As Opeth has a specific sound that is immediately recognisable, this advantage is taken to a higher level of sophistication with Wilson's awesome production job. Damnation sees Opeth experimenting a bit further with vocal harmonies and arrangements. They have found a unique sound for every single tune yet managed to maintain the almost perfect unity all throughout the entire disc. The lyrics are mostly inspired from loneliness, despair, regret and depression caused by the end of a relationship. Needless to say they come across as deeply moving and heartfelt. The songs earn their dark tone not just through regular keyboards and synths, but moreso through Floydan guitar work that is layered as a warm texture on the compositions. In "Closure" some people may get the misconception that this is just one of those typical goth tracks with heavy keyboard work thrown in... well it's not. There's not a single keyboard work in there! It's the looped guitars that are playing notes next to each other without getting the least bit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Murder of Crows; Brand: Dead Soul Tribe; Review: Devon Graves was previously known as Buddy Lackey in his former band Psychotic Waltz. It was a shame when Psychotic Waltz broke up and everyone in the band went their own way. I heard that Devon released a solo album but never had the chance to track it down and check it out. I, however, made sure I picked up both Dead Soul Tribe discs and have been spinning them on and off for a long time. The first DST disc didn't really grab me right away being a huge change of style from Psychotic Waltz. With the release of A Murder of Crows, however, the music on their debut speaks much better to me now as well. It's just a matter of time for this band to grow on you. A Murder of Crows is a semi-concept album in the way that some tunes are linked with each other and deal with themes like the isolation of the individual in the society. Although there's a underlying concept running through the album, all songs can be listened and enjoyed independently. On a thematic level the album makes a philosophical statement about crows carrying the souls of dead people and Devon questions the ones that cannot make it to the beyond. The album aims to produce more questions to think about instead of offering pseudo-intellectual artistic messages. The lyrics are very poetic and a bit surreal but they never lose their touch with the listener and become too sterile to take seriously. Devon has mixed and produced this album and the sonic quality of it is really amazing. Unlike the self-titled debut, the involvement of the other band members seems more prevalant. I am particularly impressed by Adel Moustafa's drumming, both his tone and the way he chose to express himself. His technique is combined with a strange kind of creativity that is hard to explain. The comparisons to Tool and their drummers are being made quite a lot, but I personally don't hear it all that much, except the fact that I agree both bands' drummers are godly. That said, I've never been a Tool fan, but I do respect their talent and ambition. Moreover I haven't listened to them too much either so I can't really comment on the so-called similarities. The album puts less emphasis on keyboards but borrows elements from folk music and incorporates some beautiful flute parts as well. The rhythm guitars (also played by Devon Graves) are more eminent and together with the powerful and fluid rhythm section consisting of drummer Moustafa and bassist Roland Ivenz make this disc more of a band effort and definitely a more aggressive output. The occasional guitar solos fit the flow of this disc perfectly and push the album into more unexplored directions. I've been listening to the upcoming Ayreon album The Human Equation a lot recently and Devon Graves' amazing performance on it tempted me to revisit my DST discs. This guy has an amazing voice with a personality all his own. It should be in your best interest to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bleed; Brand: Angel Dust; Review: I own all Angel Dust albums except their first one Into the Dark Past, and I can easily say that Bleed is by far their best work. Actually I like all of their discs but I think they released their most essential records from the Border of Reality to the Enlighten the Darkness era. Bleed was their album in-between... and their best! Bands like Angel Dust and Rage updated their older sound with some more modern elements (symphonic arrangements, inclusion of keys and piano, more detailed production, etc.) and became the much needed breath of fresh air in the Euro power metal scene. The keyboards on this album have absolutely taken the depth of Angel Dust's music to a higher level. The piano intro of the title track is pure genius and one of the most unorthodox power metal songs of any band. This was the song that hooked me to Angel Dust and prompted me to go out and buy all their back catalog. With each release going backwards I discovered the band's thrash metal roots had indeed never been abandoned completely. Actually the thrash metal ingredients are still present on Bleed but they're not very much in the forefront. The band has chosen to bury them a bit deep in the compositions but it's definitely there when you give it a good listen. Dirk Thurisch's vocal delivery on this album was one of the greatest changes as far as Euro power vocalists were concerned. He has a medium vocal range but quite often goes out of his way to hit higher notes with a very aggressive delivery. It is this expressive style in his singing that makes Bleed so special. All the keyboard arrangements have brought a very sparse and cool vibe to the songs yet Dirk's fiery vocal lines along with the sharp guitar solos which are all centred around Frank Banx's subtle bass work are phenomenal. Bleed is not only the best Angel Dust album, but one of my favourite outputs of the entire power metal genre. It is far from the happy-go power metal albums with singers screaming their hearts out or twin guitar work dancing around incessant double drums. Angel Dust was among the first German bands to destroy this stale songwriting concept in power metal and actually aimed at creating heavy metal songs with a lot of power. There is a great deal of variety on this disc going from the melodic song "Never" to the "Follow Me" parts 1 and 2 both of which offer different sides of the band. One of them is a slow and emotional ballad while the other employs the band's older thrash roots without getting overly loud. "Addicted to Serenity" and "Surrender?" are both insanely catchy with a nice chorus which you can sing along to although they both contain solid lyrical work. My copy of this CD is the regular edition with 9 tracks so "Liquid Angel", their ballad, closes the album. I noticed this copy contains the band's Rainbow cover "Temple of the King" which is also; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Am Universum; Brand: Amorphis; Review: It is funny how Amorphis gets all this negative feedback from their so-called fans. Most of them are unfortunately close-minded folks who won't accept anything different from the band's earlier melodic doom-death driven Tales from the Thousand Lakes. I don't see it. Contrary to bands like Paradise Lost, Moonspell, Tiamat or Ulver who also started out as extreme metal bands, Amorphis never went on to become a lousy electronic/goth act completely stripped off their integrity. It is hard to take any comment that says they have 'sold out' seriously when the music on Am Universum is deeply rooted in jazz harmonies and develops into powerful and Floydan psychedelic expression. It's one thing to dislike a band's change of musical direction, but it's a completely different matter to call them sell-outs just because they are actually exploring with deeper musical ideas. I happen to like some of Tiamat and Ulver's newer material but think their earlier work is much better. As for Amorphis, while the Tales and Elegy era will probably appeal to me the best, I think their current style which is a culmination of a wide variety of genres is really successful. It is understandable that the fans on the extreme end of the equation may not like this, but the ones who appreciate musical growth and change combined with more powerful artistic expression and slightly progressive ingredients are bound to -- at least -- appreciate this CD, if not dig it completely. Am Universum may be my favourite Amorphis album from the post-Elegy era of the band which signalled the change of their direction. While Tuonela was heavily folk-tinged, their last one, Far from the Sun displays their more modern and guitar-driven updated sound. Am Universum falls somewhere in between but is very heavily influenced by the 70's and particularly the keyboard work is reminiscent of Pink Floyd's psychedelic era. The song arrangements are strengthened with jazzy elements particularly in tracks such as "Crimson Wave", "Drifting Memories" and "Captured State". The addition of saxophone seems to have put so many fans off, but don't get it the wrong way. It is delicately placed in the mix and it never overpowers any other instrument. The keyboard work and guitar riffing is much more on jazz ground than the saxophone. "Alone" is my personal favourite off this album and also one of the best Amorphis tunes ever penned in my opinion. The keyboard work that is thrown in the middle is a great homage to the 70's and puts a smile on my face whenever I hear it and the structure of the song refuses to give in and builds up with another beautiful chorus delivered flawlessly by Pasi and the tune closes with a soothing guitar solo that fades into layers of white noise. Simply brilliant. "Crimson Wave" is another perfect tune that brings the band's creative approach to the focus of the album displaying the rich harmonies buried within the composition which we can hear on any King Crimson release of the early 70's. The sometimes overlooked "Veil of Sin"; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Space Metal; Brand: Damian Wilson; Review: After Arjen Lucassen split up his extreme sides on the previous Ayreon albums, The Flight of the Migrator and The Dream Sequencer, he went on to create the highly atmospheric Ambeon record with an unknown, yet very talented, young female singer. Once he got it out of his system as well, he knew it was time to put out something really heavy but, as in the case with Ambeon, he needed to express himself in a different project than Ayreon... so he called it Star One. The name of the project is Star One, and the title of the album is Space Metal. On this record, Arjen wanted to pay homage to all the science fiction movies that take place entirely in space. It is no secret that Arjen was deeply influeced by sci-fi films and apparently he felt he wanted to thank for their impact on him. There is no single storyline here, unlike most Ayreon releases. This is a theme album focusing on similar subject matters but each song stands on its own. Another difference with Ayreon is the number of singers featured here. Arjen chose to work with only four singers this time, and I would consider each and every one of them among the best and most prolific singers in prog metal. Russel Allen from Symphony X is one of the best singers around and his style on Space Metal is no exception. Damian Wilson is Arjen's long-time friend and we've all grown to love his unique and emotional delivery over the years. Then we have a newcomer, Dan Swano, who is currently my favourite vocalist in prog rock and metal. I remember how psyched I was when I heard Arjen was going to work with him because Dan possesses one of the darkest, deepest and most expressive singing styles I have ever heard. I hope he and Arjen will get together again for other projects in the future. The last singer is female vocalist Floor Jansen of After Forever fame. Jansen sounds nothing like she does in After Forever, she sings more operatic and more progressive. Her high singing provides a nice contrast with Dan and Damien's deeper expressions. Usually this is complemented by Russel Allen's sometimes fiery and sometimes painful delivery. Overall each singer seems to be very excited to be part of this project and embraces it as if it were their own. Arjen always knows who he has to work with and how to bring out the best in these talented individuals. The music is a lot heavier than the previous Ayreon releases, but by "heavy" I mean by Arjen Lucassen's standards. Don't go expecting an ultra-aggressive riff and furious drum-bass hybrid. After all this is Arjen Lucassen and his artsy side is always there. It's this aspect that makes him different from 98% of other prog metal acts. Still there is plenty of gigantic riffs played by Arjen and some really beautiful lead solos that shine with ferocity. Jens Johansson (Stratovarius, Malmsteen) and Erik Norlander (Lana Lane) perform meticulous keyboard sections in quite; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pleasant Shade Of Gray; Brand: Fates Warning; Review: Fates Warning is perhaps the only prog metal act that helped develop this obscure genre from the 80's to this time, but they have always been overshadowed by their contemporaries. In the 80's everyone had their attention focused on Queensryche and Crimson Glory, and the 90's saw Dream Theater and Symphony X dominating everything prog-wise. And, while very few bands have managed to maintain their consistency, always putting out quality material, carving their own little niche in the ever-growing genre, many of them went for the easy way out after scoring one or two major 'hit' albums. Maybe it's the fact that both Ryche and DT peaked way too early with releases like Mindcrime and I&W coming out within 5 years of their forming. For Fates, on the other hand, it was a slower (but perhaps safer) process of growing and establishing themselves as one of the greatest prog metal bands of all times! Many music fans, who have given this disc its deserved listen and patience, call APSOG a concept album, but I beg to differ. Reason being, this is one long epic song consisting of 12 parts lest listeners can navigate it easier (ala Edge of Sanity - Crimson II). There is no concrete storyline or 'concept' happening in the album from a lyrical standpoint, it is just a big song comprised of an hour long composition broken down into untitled tracks. The song seems like a long dream characterized by love, loss and sadness abound with 'gray' thoughts coming and going. It is the purest form of human life being reflected through an incredibly cerebral piece of art. Towards the finale of the album, the dream is suddenly over with the going off of an alarm clock bringing both the listener and the unnamed character in the album back to life. Different from most prog metal albums of the 90's, there is little to no effort made to make the listener's head spin with unnecessary technical prowess. You don't get dizzy listening to APSOG trying to keep up with various polyrhythms, countless notes squeezed into a scale played mindlessly fast on the guitar or a vocalist constantly exerting himself just to remain in his highest range possible -- all aspects which would serve no purpose on this album. Jim Matheos is a murderously underrated musician. To this day everyone raves about any band's guitar player, but Matheos' genius is always passed up for some reason. He wrote all the lyrics and composed the entire album on his own. What's more is, he hasn't taken the easy way out laying down some meaningless riffs and solos throughout this CD. On the contrary he only plays two solos on the entire album, parts VI and IX. Both solos are slow and minimal but emotionally charged at the highest level possible. Ray Alder, no doubt, does his best vocal performance ever here. He stays comfortably in his own range and delivers the tunes with passion, emotion and conviction. The vocal line in the intro of Part VI remains to this day one; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PhorcefulAhead; Brand: Symphorce; Review: I am extremely disappointed that I supported this band by buying their album. I think their vocalist Andy B. Franck (also vocalist of Brainstorm) has completely ruined his reputation by first claiming that he's never ever listened to Pain of Salvation and then, when the lyrics were noticed by too many people, by apologising to everyone and saying it was actually supposed to be a tribute to a band whose lyrics he really loved. Well, how do you pay tribute to a band which you've never listened to?! Isn't that pathetic?! Check these lyrics out: Symphorce - Phorcefulahead - "Slowdown" : (2002) "Some wear their bruises on their skin others hide their scars deep within" Pain of Salvation - TPE1 - "In the Flesh" : (2000) "Some wear their bruises on their skin Others have their scars deep within" And here's another one: Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element - "Idioglossia" : "For every time you froze me out For every punch every shout" And earlier on, in "Morning on Earth" : "This is what we can share - This is all we can lose" And now check out Andy's 'lyrics' on "Nothing Left" : "Every time you froze me out every punch, every shout this is what we can share - this is all we can share" Can you believe it?! They even kept the hyphen. And Andy's explanation doesn't make things any better either. If you want to use someone else's lyrics you kindly ask for their approval or at least mention it in your CD booklet. But when you first deny being a POS fan and then back out and admit the plagiarism and try to cover it by saying it was supposed to be a homage... your chances of being credible are less than zero in my books. I encourage anyone who reads this to stop supporting whatever this guy puts out. I've never been a big Brainstorm or Symphorce fan, but I always thought they were okay bands. I'm just not sure if I still want to listen to this guy anymore. Their music is okay but the singer and 'lyricist' has no self-esteem. If you don't believe me, check out the liner notes of both bands' albums and see for yourself.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Twice Second; Brand: Symphorce; Review: Vocalist Andy B. Franck (also of Ivanhoe and Brainstorm) unfortunately plagiarised lots of Pain of Salvation lyrics on the previous Symphorce disc Phorceful Ahead. Feel free to check my review of it and then check both band's lyrics in their booklets and you'll see the 'similarity'. I am wondering how Andy wrote the lyrics on the Symphorce album. If he's such a big POS fan (which he initally denied), then why doesn't he play in a POS tribute band? When he realised his lyrics on PA were identical to Pain of Salvation's he admitted having used them and apologised. Then why didn't he thank POS in the booklet and give them credit? Isn't all of this a little weird? I mean no disrespect to the other guys in Symphorce, especially Cedric Dupond and Markus Pohl who are both amazing songwriters and guitar players. Also the music of this band is really cool. The thing is Andy B. Franck said, after disbanding Ivanhoe, he'd formed Symphorce to write songs "straight from the heart and soul" and this just doesn't hold water. You're not writing straight from your heart when you use another lyricist's words without giving him any credit. I am extremely disappointed to see Andy reacted this way and I'll be very sceptical about his musical endeavours from now on. I do like Brainstorm quite a bit and think Ivanhoe was his best band but this incident has just angered me quite a bit.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dreaming Neon Black; Brand: Nevermore; Review: I remember buying this disc in January 1999 and it was the first big opus of the year and I immediately knew that it was going to make my Album of the Year list and become an indispensable record to my collection. Steering only slightly away from the highly technical musicianship they have been known for, Dreaming Neon Black takes you on a metal journey filled with an array of emotions, melodic hooks and heavy grooves, the instantly recognisable and unmistakeable vocal deliveries of Warrel Dane, and of course the astonishing guitar work of Jeff Loomis and Tim Calvert. There is a slight line-up change on DNB, guitarist Pat O'Brien left the band in order to fulfill his dreams of playing in Cannibal Corpse and was replaced with long-time friend and ex-Forbidden guitarist Tim Calvert whose performance is outstanding. Needless to say Calvert breathes new life into the band and his thrash-rooted articulation combined with Jeff Loomis' ultra-diverse style embraces a wide range of soundscapes. Calvert's influence is also eminent in the songcraft writing-wise, especially in the songs "Beyond Within", "Deconstruction" and "Cenotaph". Any Forbidden fan should easily hear Calvert in these tunes. Jeff Loomis is out of this world. I can't believe how anyone so diverse, talented and gifted is so underrated by the metal community. Loomis' musical background ranges from classical to jazz to death metal and he's one of the most technically advanced guitarists around. However what makes him and Nevermore so special is without question his songwriting abilities. Loomis has always been the main driving force behind Nevermore and together with Dane's one of a kind vocal melodies and intriguing concept story they have released a timeless classic. The album was produced by Neil Kernon who is currently among my favourite producers. His work with Queensryche, Judas Pries and Spiral Architect is stunning, but I believe Dreaming Neon Black is the peak of his entire career. I've hardly heard another perfectly produced album as Dreaming in my life. Sonically everything is so meticulously arranged; the pounding rhythm from 1996's The Politics of Ecstasy and the brooding melodic pieces from its preceding EP In Memory have both been tapped for Dreaming. Warrel Dane's vocals are morse centred yet a million times more heartfelt. The closing song "Forever" is his testament to emotion in its purest form. As stated previously in other reviews, Dreaming is a concept album written by Dane. It is about an old girlfriend of his whom he hasn't seen for over 10 years and suddenly he begins having these recurring nightmares about her. He sees her drowning in a pool calling out his name (also portrayed on the album cover by Travis Smith) and this goes on for quite some time. It gets to the point where Dane can't take it anymore so he decides to write this album. He has stated that once he got it out of his system, he stopped having these dreams and was feeling considerably better. Whether this is true or not is beside the point in my opinion. I would; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Into the Mirror Black; Brand: Sanctuary; Review: Into the Mirror Black is Sanctuary's second and unfortunately last album. The band broke up after this release before evolving into the great band known as Nevermore. Leaving its Priest influences on Refuge Denied behind, with this release, Sanctuary show incredible amount of growth in their songwriting. The melodies are quite catchy with memorable vocal harmonies provided by Warrel Dane. Also, unlike Dave Mustaine's production on Refuge Denied, Into theMirror Black has a sharper sound and more focused riffs centred around Dane's almost thrashy vocal style. This album is where the seeds of the current Nevermore were planted. Released in 1989, Mirror Black was Dane's testimony to a darker, deeper and more captivating musical vision. The thrashy riffs, which would later become the trademark Nevermore style, abound most of the compositions here. Although the opening song "Future Tense" is the most popular song on the album, I am of the strong opinion that Warrel Dane and his friends outdo this track several times. The first wonder is "Taste Revenge" displaying Dane's slightly operatic but moreso aggressive delivery. This song has everything: hooks, melodies, stunning guitar solos and searing vocals. "Epitaph" sounds like the first ever tune penned by Dane that would eventually lead him to write his most incredible masterpiece Dreaming Neon Black ten years after this album. It begins with a very dark and unusual vocal style and delves into unexplored territory picking up on speed and heaviness. "Eden Lies Obscured" and "The Mirror Black" are two other songs that follow this amazing track and become the centrepiece of the entire record. The opening scream of "The Mirror Black" is one of the finest moments on this disc. The lyrical depth of these songs exploring political corruption and how politicians manipulate the society are fearlessly criticised. It is obvious that Dane opted for a more distinctive style when he was writing this album. The structure of the songs are rather unusual compared to other 80's band and Dane uses his voice in every different style possible. The opening song "Future Tense" offers lots of stop-starts with a variety of key and tempo changes. In this aspect I am slightly reminded of bands like earlier Psychotic Waltz and Antithesis. I can also see some older Queensryche fans digging this release if they're up for songs in a heavier context. "Long Since Dark", "Seasons of Destruction" and "Communion" are more on the heavier side of the spectrum with relentless guitar work and thrashy rhythm patterns. "One More Murder" lies somewhere in between spawning the roots of some of the songs on the self-titled Nevermore debut. The songs are within the 4-6 minute mark and the record clocks in at over 46 minutes. 15 years after its release, it still finds its place in my stereo quite often. If you like Nevermore and have never heard any Sancturay before, this is where you should start. It is no where near as dark and brooding as Nevermore but it has more emphasis on melody and vocal harmonies. Highly recommended to any metal fan regardless of; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edge Of Thorns; Brand: Savatage; Review: Edge of Thorns is unfortunately the final recording of the band's co-founder and original guitarist Criss Oliva due to his untimely death (Oct 17, 1993). At the same time, it is the very first album with second vocalist Zak Stevens at the helm. Changing lead singers is not a very smart thing to do in general, but original vocalist Jon Oliva's voice, after screaming virtually nonstop for a very long period from the Hall of the Mountain King tour to the Streets tour, had come to the point that it no longer contained the sheer power and delivery it once did. Jon was exhausted and he had to step down. It was by no means an easy decision to make, but besides his physical problems, Jon also blamed himself for the band's inability to break through on American radio. He knew he would do whatever it would take to do for the good of Savatage, and so decided to part ways with the band and start working with Paul O'Neill on the Romanov musical. Finding a good replacement for Jon Oliva wasn't an easy task. Among the hundreds of demo tapes the band received, Criss and Jon decided to select Zachary Stevens, lead singer of Boston act called Wicked Witch. Zak's voice is completely different to Jon's; it is smooth, melodic and more accessible. The band wanted someone, as opposed to emulating Jon's vocal style, who would bring something totally different to the fold. There is a great deal of conviction in Zak's delivery and he has a very large vocal range. Zak also has the ability to layer himself easily and with this aspect he gave the main songwriters the opportunity to try using harmonies they had never used before. Zak has a great voice; his tone is smooth but he can also get up there in the register. It is again this aspect of his singing style that prevented Sava fans from constantly comparing him to Jon Oliva, because Zak's voice had its own characteristics. The addition of Zak also gave Jon the opportunity to work with a voice other than his own. Although Jon stepped down on Edge of Thorns, he only left as the singer of the band. He continued to compose songs, coach along Zak Stevens in the studio, and play keyboards, piano and even drums on songs like "He Carves His Stone" and "Degrees of Sanity". Needless to say, his role in the creation of EOT was very integral and his writing was a key step in Sava's new musical direction that would eventually lead the band to its DWD/TWOM days. Without Jon involved in the writing process, EOT wouldn't be the masterpiece it now is, that's for sure. On this album, Savatage opted for a completely different record than its predecessor Streets. Streets is quite orchestra- and keyboard-based, while EOT sees the band going for a more guitar-driven sound. It puts Criss Oliva in the spotlight which is exactly what Jon wanted. Upon his departure from the band, he wanted EOT to give Criss the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The January Tree; Brand: Dead Soul Tribe; Review: It's always a challenging task to follow up your previous album, especially if it was such a great success among the prog community and garnered a lot of critical acclaim on various webzines and magazines. A Murder of Crows was an awesome record and my curiousity was piqued when I heard Devon Graves had already started composing his third Dead Soul Tribe CD -- The January Tree. The lyrics I mentioned in my subject line is the main chorus of the third track on the album, "The Love of Hate". I know this is a bizarre way of starting a review but I believe the melody line Devon Graves came up on this track may be one of his best in his entire career. No exaggeration here, I've heard (almost) everything he's done so far and I have to point out the vocal melody on this track is unbelievable. In fact 98% of the melodies he created here are amazing, you've never heard him sing the way he sings on The January Tree. This record is a logical continuation of the philosophical AMOC, but it has more character and a more homogeneous overall feel. Even though it may be too early to pass judgement yet, I think The January Tree is going to be my favourite DST of the three. I really enjoy it a lot. Given the lyrics on this disc, to say that Devon Graves is merely a "lyricist" would be daft. Graves is a modern "poet" whose art has yet to be discovered by most rock/metal fans. What's more is his lyrics make a lot more sense and are more effective when heard within the context of the song. Devon Graves has always had the idea of singing soft melodies over really heavy riffs and he utilises this idea to the best of his advantage on The January Tree. About all the songs here are very riff-based, the kind of riffs that are played very much to the point but are available throughout the entire disc. What Devon does is find the soft vocal harmonies and melodies and sing them over these riffs creating a beautiful sense of contrast. There are songs here which feature Devon's most fragile vocal lines to date and they sound totally heartfelt to say the least. The January Tree, at times, is a wonderfully easy album to enjoy. Maybe it's because I'm so used to the signature sound of DST and Devon's vocal delivery throughout the 10 years I've been listening to him, so my guess is that if you're a fan of AMOC and some of the later era Psychotic Waltz stuff, you're most probably going to find yourself digging this CD a lot. Unlike AMOC though, three of the songs on January Tree were co-written by Adel Moustafa and surprisingly these songs have brought a very different feel to the record. Besides the terrific album opener "Spiders and Flies", the fourth track "Why?" features a very structured yet natural and memorable guitar solo. Once again the chorus here is incredibly beautiful. "Wings; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Abydos; Brand: Abydos; Review: Abydos is Vanden Plas vocalist Andy Kuntz' first solo album. It's strange cause I didn't hear about this project until a few months ago and when I did I thought it was going to be one of those albums that float in the prog rock territory. Direct references were being made to the 60's and 70's but upon hearing the CD I was quite surprised at the 'heaviness' factor to be found on this album. This album bears certain similar characteristics with Vanden Plas' 2002 album Beyond Daylight, which is in my opinion despite all the label support still one of the most underrated prog metal albums of the last couple of years. Based on Andy Kuntz' stage play "The Inhabitants of My Diary", this is a concept inspired by the death of three important people in Kuntz' life in the year 2003, one of them being his father. Andy Kuntz created this album to cope with these dramatic events. Since he's always played leading roles in various musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar and Nostradamus, theatre has always been an important part of his life. Rumours have it that Abydos is the birthplace of theatre in ancient history and as the concept of this album is sort of like an opera, Kuntz felt Abydos was a very fitting name. The album documents a fabulous story about fears, doubts and vital questions which occur when one is losing a beloved one. The concept, however, is vaguely explained in the booklet as Kuntz has already been approached by a number of playhouses which are eager to stage his play. Still, it is evident, reading from the lyrics, that Abydos is a colourful story with some subtle autobiographical touches. Vanden Plas drummer Andreas Lill kicks off the record with one of the most exciting drum solos ever and the intro delves into "You Broke the Sun" which features Andy Kuntz exploring with incredible vocal harmonies. The song is catchy, poignant, progressive and heavy -- a terrific start. As "Silence" follows, the undeniable James Labrie comparisons begin to show. Some people may even think it's Labrie indeed, but the successive tracks reveal that Kuntz' voice is perhaps an octave or two lower. Accompanying Kuntz on their instruments are Stephan Glass and Michael Krauss on guitars. Glass had also recorded Vanden Plas' Accult acoustic project back in 1996 and it's him who produced Abydos as well. Moreover Glass and Krauss composed the music with Kuntz contributing the lyrics and vocal melodies. The title track is the only song where Kuntz also had a finger in songwriting. Glass and Krauss also play bass, piano and keys. They both prove to be a great duo, particularly in the opening riff and instrumental section of "God's Driftwood". The duo make their talents shine further in the acoustic guitar solo of "Radio Earth" before kicking into a full-blast heavy rocker. The last two tracks "Wildflowersky" and "A Boy Named Fly", also the longest songs on the album, both contain beautiful melodic instrumental parts with sublime orchestration. The latter also features female; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FWX; Brand: Fates Warning; Review: This is strange indeed because in all the reviews written thus far I didn't see anyone else mention the similarities between Ray Alder's solo project Engine and Fates Warning's new album FWX. Yes, this album *is* heavier than their previous two, but it certainly sounds nothing like their earlier 80's or mid-90's stuff (and it shouldn't anyway). People have likened FWX to their Parallels/Inside Out era and somewhat to the newer sound they explored on APSOG/Disconnected. While the Disconnected comparison isn't off, I've yet to hear others mention the influence of Ray Alder's Engine project. This is the first record Matheos hasn't worked with long time producer Terry Brown and instead went along with singer Ray Alder to handle the production duties. The Ray Alder influence is needless to say quite subtle at times. Comparisons could be particularly made to the first Engine album; that's where some of the heaviness comes from. The sound on FWX is bound to please the older fans as long as they don't expect another Awaken the Guardian or Perfect Symmetry type of record. Looking back on Fates Warning, they've morphed from disc to disc, going from a hybrid of 80's heavy metal and prog metal to more melodic prog to atmospheric and experimental prog. Each disc has continued to evolve and Matheos particularly reached his peak during the APSOG era introducing layers of depth like never before. FWX, while surprisingly heavy during some moments, still retains the dark and atmospheric vibe which Fates Warning successfully captured on their previous album Disconnected. The similarities are so evident that even the colours and tones they used on their artwork bear affinities. For example, the surrounding of the girl in the Disconnected booklet is almost identical to the barren field displayed in the FWX one. Lyrical themes are once again characterized by despondency, despair and failures in past relationships. Alder wrote the lyrics for three songs on the album, which are "Simple Human", "Heal Me" and "Crawl". The latter particularly sounds like an Engine outtake during the chorus. My favourite songs on the CD are "River Wide Ocean Deep", "Another Perfect Day" and "X". "River Wide Ocean Deep" has got to be the one of the most experimental songs Matheos has ever penned. It starts with female vocals in a Middle Eastern flavour before it borrows electronic soundscapes and shifts on to a heavier approach. Mark Zonder's drumming is superb in that passage. Very heavy and very relentless. "Another Perfect Day" has this brilliant acoustic intro which is a recurring theme coming up in the middle once again. This acoustic melody is something you'd normally hear on an Opeth album. I could swear Jim Matheos listened to Opeth quite a bit before coming up with that killer riff. Unlike Disconnected, Matheos also plays a few sublime guitar solos on songs like "Stranger" and the album's finale "X". This one is going to put a smile on lots of old fans' face. The way it builds up right after the soft piano melody is absolutely beautiful. It's a shame that; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Operation: Mindcrime; Brand: Queensrche; Review: Operation: Mindcrime is the album by which Queensryche is known throughout the world; people who know little or nothing about the band have at least heard of them because of this record. It is perhaps the most revolutionary prog metal album because of its compelling storyline and masterfully-crafted musicianship. While Fates Warning already started to pave the way for their followers with Awaken the Guardian in 1986, it was mainly Queensryche that managed to break on a bigger scale reaching the masses. This album set the standards for most of the 90's bands; anyone who listens to Heavy Metal holds it very high respecting every second of it. Where to begin? I know it's daft trying to explain the storyline of a deeply moving concept 16 years after its inception, especially if only few of the question marks have been erased since 1988. Basically, Operation: Mindcrime is an epic tale of revolution and intrigue, psychological manipulation, corruption of politicians, media, drugs, murder and suicide. It envelopes a broad range of subject matters dealing with them from individuals' point of view, but on a larger scope, it also offers sociopolitical commentary on the previously mentioned themes. Geoff Tate came up with this incredibly profound concept when he was living in Montreal after the Rage for Order tour. He mentioned he was flooded with an abundance of lyrical ideas while sitting in the back of a Catholic Church with a choir singing in full voice around flickering candles lightening the gloomy atmosphere of the place. The foundations of the storyline came to him in a flash and he mentioned writing most of the story within a span of twenty minutes. He broadened his scope by coupling the interesting tale with different personalities he'd met on his travels. One of these characters became Doctor X, a man with cold, calculating and vicious personality whose alleged involvement with a terrorist organization was the inspiration for this record. Of course it's not just about the music. When Tate presented his idea of a concept piece to the band, the only member who embraced the offer was his principal writing partner Chris DeGarmo. Had it not been for DeGarmo's bold move and creative input this disc would have never been what it is. Besides Geoff Tate's cerebral lyrical work and amazing vocal delivery, it is Chris DeGarmo's esoteric songwriting what makes O:M a timeless masterpiece. While he isn't credited as a composer in tracks such as "Speak" and "Revolution Calling", I would bet my life that those tracks were all given their final touch by DeGarmo and noted producer Nick Collins of Rush fame. The album shines from start to finish peaking particularly with the lyrics of "Revolution Calling" introducing the storyline and "Operation: Mindcrime" delivering the message of the entire record successfully. "The Mission" being one of the many 100% Chris DeGarmo creations sees Geoff Tate performing a rock solid vocal performance backed up by powerful melodies. "Spreading the Disease" once again displays Geoff Tate's amazing talents as a lyricist while the 10-minute epic "Suite Sister Mary"; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Universal Migrator Pt.2: Flight Universal Migrator; Brand: Ayreon; Review: Flight of the Migrator is the second part of Ayreon's Universal Migrator double album; but it has another significance in Arjen Lucassen's almost 25-year long career. This is Ayreon's breakthrough album in prog metal, especially because of its unimaginable line-up of vocalists. Some of these singers are (in order of appearance on the album) Russel Allen from Symphony X, Damian Wilson from both previous Ayreon albums and Threshold, Ralf Scheepers from Primal Fear, Andi Deris from Helloween, Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden and Timo Kotipelto from Stratovarius. The list of musicians on the record are equally impressive: Erik Norlander and Clive Nolan on keyboards, Michael Romeo (Symphony X) and Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery) on guitars, and long-time 'godly' drummer Ed Warby. Needless to say, the prog community was taken by storm when they heard the involvement of all these talented musicians, and thus, 5 years after its inception, Ayreon finally made its name known throughout the world. While this record wouldn't make my favourites list, I believe there are some amazing moments and songs here that may easily surpass most bands' best works. FOTM is the heavier part of the concept. Please note that, when I say 'heavy', I mean that by Ayreon's standards. If you check this out, you may think it isn't all that heavy compared to some of your favourite prog bands, but within the Ayreon catalog, it certainly has its own place in terms of the heaviness factor, particularly if you pop this disc in after listening to The Dream Sequencer. Arjen Lucassen's music has never been about being technically efficient or musically heavy, he has always, in his long career, strived for making 'good' compositions and finding relevant melodies to the highly creative concepts he comes up with. "Chaos" kicks things off with a spoken intro similar to that on TDS; the somewhat neoclassical arrangement is impressive indeed, but what really blows my mind every time I play this tune is Ed Warby's fascinating drumming -- TWICE!! Yes, he puts down a significant solo somewhere in the middle of the song and before you can regain your composure he lays down another one, only more wicked, proving that he is a terribly overlooked talent indeed. "Dawn of a Million Souls" is one of the most known tracks off this record; Russel Allen's vocal performance needs no explanation. The guy is out of this world. He recorded the song in his home studio and sent the copy to Arjen. I remember Arjen saying his eyes filled with tears when he first heard the song on the phone. Allen's bandmate Michael Romeo also performs in this track. He as always plays with melody and virtuosity. The chromatic riff in the solo is technically almost impossible. Despite the Symphony X guys' killer performance, my favourite song on this CD is the 10 plus minute epic "Into the Black Hole" sung by none other than the godly Bruce Dickinson. I know it took Arjen a very long time to get Bruce to sing on the record, but once they joined forces,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Be; Brand: Pain Of Salvation; Review: After listening to BE everyday for nearly two months, I still find it quite hard to verbalise my thoughts on it. That's because I am well aware of the fact that, like every other POS disc, BE too holds so many undiscovered treasures, and only after a good many spins will it disclose itself to its listeners. Yet, I'll still give it a try. I can see why the album is getting negative reviews from some fans; BE is a very serious album and it covers a very large concept. Even compared to previous POS albums, it is on a grand scale. The concept reads like a combination of sociology and theology, with a good dose of science thrown in, especially the parts dealing with the relation between man and his external environment. To attempt to encompass such a wide ranging thesis in 76 minutes is an admirable task in itself, so it is understandable why some fans think the album isn't 'musical' enough for their tastes. On the other hand, some other people think, for such a wide concept, it should at least be a double album, but personally I don't agree with that. Because if that was the case, I am sure an equal amount of people would complain about it being too long. You can never please everyone. That said, I think Daniel Gildenlow has achieved the impossible with his new creation. BE contains intense, emotionally manipulated sonic experiences that needed to be released. As Daniel explains in the booklet, he had this concept on his mind since 1996 and he needed to get it out of his system after all these years. Way before this album came out, when Daniel announced the story on his website, I was literally stunned for a moment, because I didn't think what he had on his mind could be put on a CD. He, however, reached into the secret parts of his brain for inspiration and made all those visions an audible reality. Fear not, the next POS album will sound nothing similar to BE, this is just a one-off kind of thing, but I still find this album to be intense in every sense of the word! The music on BE is decidedly less accessible than POS' previous albums, however it is far from boring. The unique POS sound is still fully intact here from note one to the last second. The album encompasses a lot of complex emotions and rich textures with slowly seeping and darkly dramatic melodies. Emotion and harshness, harmony and chaos, construction and virtuosity -- everything is perfectly blended in the typical Pain of Salvation style. With the spoken parts introducing the listener to the concept, "Imago" kicks off and is immediately recognised for its folky vibe, something Daniel didn't explore with on such a great scale on the previous CDs. I really love this folk touch present throughout the entire record. It creeps through the compositions subtly and adds them a completely original flavour. Fredrik Hermansson proves to be a very key element in all the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Infinity; Brand: Devin Townsend; Review: I once read on an internet message board where someone identified each and every Devin Townsend album and I thoroughly enjoyed his descriptions. He said: SYL = Fire, Ocean Machine = Water, Physicist = Clouds, Terria = Earth, and Infinity = Universe, while Devin Townsend equals Soul. Now I don't know how he reached these conclusions, but if you're familiar with Devin Townsend's music (when I say "familiar", I don't mean if you've just "heard" some of his songs!), you will definitely see the correlations between his albums and the aforementioned themes. But still, it's slightly wrong. Infinity is BIGGER than the entire universe; it's larger, more powerful and more absorbing too. What's more is, Infinity isn't even my favourite Devin Townsend album. I happen to like Ocean Machine and Terria better, but from an objective point of view, Infinity is wider in scope and more eclectic in songwriting than both albums put together. Infinity is a study in depression and mental stability. It depicts some of the hardest times in Devin's life. He wrote, produced, recorded and engineered it himself and he was was institutionalized (at his own will) shortly after he finished the album due to bipolar disorder. If you truly immerse yourself in this record, you are bound to think a 'normal' person wouldn't have managed to create such compositions. The album reeks of madness from start to finish and this is particularly displayed in "War" and "Ants". You just have to listen to the creepy intro of "War" over and over again (with good headphones) and see how feelings of chaos are disguised under main guitar riffs. The chorus in this song is one of the most haunting lyric lines ever. Each time Devin screams "You can't feel love when you are not being loved!" gets more and more tragic with each second. "Ants" proves that Devin and the band behind him are capable of reaching the highest technical level possible if necessary. Devin performs an inhuman vocal performace in this track. The highly advanced interplay between the guitar, bass and keys (not to mention the godly drumming) could easily rival with some of the most technical bands in the world. Devin's incredible production technique is heavily subtle through the entire album. The wall of sound that surrounds his songs heightens the compositions to unimaginable levels. Devin's ability to leap between growling rage and ethereal melodicism is successfully complemented by dynamic shifts ("White Colonnial Boy"). "Bad Devil" is perhaps many Devin fans' most favourite song. Its unique feel and overall eclectic vibe is otherworldly. I really love the jazzy piano in the middle and the 'catchy' chorus. Not catchy in the traditional sense though. It's just emphasis on melodicism in deeply focused and logical (yet unpredictable) songs. If somebody has never heard of what Devin has done and picks up Infinity, it might spook them out or scare them off. Not that any of his albums are instantly accessible, but Devin's body of work on Infinity needs a lot of patience and perseverance on the listener's part. Otherwise; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sex & Religion; Brand: Steve Vai; Review: Sex & Religion is in my opinion the best thing Steve Vai has released as a 'solo' artist. Most of his fans tend to diss this record because it isn't as 'wicked' as Passion and Warfare or as 'deep' as Fire Garden. I bought my first Steve Vai album in March 1991 and over the last 13+ years I never really liked his music. He has excellent technique and is a virtuoso in every sense of the word but his songwriting has never appealed to me for some reason. Not to mention his tone, his production and his song arrangements. The guy has excellent prowess over his instrument but his choice of notes does nothing for me. This is the reason why I think Sex & Religion contains some of his best moments as a 'solo' artist. This was released under the VAI moniker instead of Steve Vai because initial plans were to put together a band with competitive players like Terry Bozzio, T.M. Stevens and Devin Townsend where each musician could contribute their ideas and talents in a healthy exchange. Isn't that the point of forming a band anyway? There needs to be unconditional acceptance of everybody else's contribution. Obviously Vai was not ready for that kind of commitment. He wasn't ready to sacrifice his own 'quirky' songwriting attitude in order to write songs together with the rest of the amazing singers on the bill. He himself admitted this years later and seemed to regret it greatly. Well, too bad -- cause the album begins to drag horribly after the first 7-8 tracks and it turns into this Steve Vai solo project with amazing players merely backing him up, rather than adding something unique to the mold of the songcraft. I've always considered Sex & Religion to be an album with some of the most amazing musicians coming together to play some of the most mediocre music ever. It's a shame Vai didn't make better use of the amazing Terry Bozzio's godly drum work. As I said, the album has a great beginning introducing the 19-year-old Devin Townsend on vocals with his mesmerizing vocal delivery. He shines on each and every track he appears on, but the lead choruses on "Here & Now", "Still My Bleeding Heart" and the title track are particularly overwhelming. It is he for the most part who makes this album a worthwhile effort. The first seven songs sound more like a band effort where each musician contributes their performance expertise. With the popular "Touching Tongues", however, the albums begins to move on a different musical path, thus utilising Vai's quirky soundscapes. He begins to experiment with more and more different styles and soon the songs lose their momentum and turn into lifeless chunks of riffs with poorly composed melodies. The guitar tone, though better than other Vai releases (with the exception of Fire Garden perhaps), is pretty thin and watery. Although "State of Grace" is a nice instrumental it also seems to me that Vai would have done much better if he just finished the album; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: O.S.I : Office of Strategic Influence; Brand: O.S.I.; Review: As we all know, Office of Strategic Influence is comprised of Jim Matheos, Kevin Moore, Sean Malone and Mike Portnoy. Initially it was planned to have Daniel Gildenlow (Pain of Salvation) share the vocal duties with Kevin Moore. Gildenlow even recorded a song for them which they liked a lot but Matheos suddenly changed his mind and Kevin did everything himself with the exception of "shutDOWN" sung by Steven Wilson. To this day it boggles my mind when I think what this album would have sounded like if Daniel had done the vocals. Actually I even think that some of the songs such as "The New Math (What He Said)" were penned strictly with Daniel in mind. The opening riff of that song is right on the same path with POS' debut album Entropia. Even though I feel Kevin Moore does a great job on the vocals, I believe the album could have been even more amazing with Daniel doing some creepy vocal harmonies and melodies in the vein of his work with The Flower Kings. You have to remember that the reason for these musicians to come together wasn't just to create music with odd time signatures and mind-twisting guitar work. O.S.I is a project that aims to make a serious statement about (corrupt)politics and its inevitable consequences. It tends to severely and boldly criticise the wrong-doings of the American government. It is a quite deep record in this respect. The musical spectrum on the other hand is equally competent. With musicians from Fates Warning, Dream Theater, Gordian Knot and Chroma Key, one may expect the music to feature some top class technicality going on, but you won't find it here. O.S.I is more of an experimental project borrowing various compositional elements. You can hear a lot of acoustic guitar work by Matheos played in the classical Robert Fripp manner blended with Kevin Moore's heavily atmospheric songwriting attitude. Moore's foray into electronic textures is fiercely mixed with the rest of the instruments and almost through the entire album it is he who sets the alternately suspensful mood. Sean Malone plays fretless bass (that's just my understanding though as nothing of that is mentioned in the booklet) and this guy is without question a musical genius. You must check out both Gordian Knot albums to get a better scope of his talents. Mike Portnoy on drums once again proves to be one of the most amazing drummers ever. He uses his hands more than he uses his feet and his playing is rather restrained on the album. However, his tone is killer, one of his best ever, and he does cut loose from time to time to make everything all the more exciting. Just listen to "Dirt from a Holy Place" with good headphones. The 10-minute song "shutDOWN" is graced by guest singer Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) and, once again, even though Wilson makes this my favourite song on the record, I believe Daniel Gildenlow could have taken everything a step further here. Mike Portnoy's eerily beautiful cymbal work in the intro; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Office of Strategic Influence; Brand: O.S.I.; Review: As we all know, Office of Strategic Influence is comprised of Jim Matheos, Kevin Moore, Sean Malone and Mike Portnoy. Initially it was planned to have Daniel Gildenlow (Pain of Salvation) share the vocal duties with Kevin Moore. Gildenlow even recorded a song for them which they liked a lot but Matheos suddenly changed his mind and Kevin did everything himself with the exception of "shutDOWN" sung by Steven Wilson. To this day it boggles my mind when I think what this album would have sounded like if Daniel had done the vocals. Actually I even think that some of the songs such as "The New Math (What He Said)" were penned strictly with Daniel in mind. The opening riff of that song is right on the same path with POS' debut album Entropia. Even though I feel Kevin Moore does a great job on the vocals, I believe the album could have been even more amazing with Daniel doing some creepy vocal harmonies and melodies in the vein of his work with The Flower Kings. You have to remember that the reason for these musicians to come together wasn't just to create music with odd time signatures and mind-twisting guitar work. O.S.I is a project that aims to make a serious statement about (corrupt)politics and its inevitable consequences. It tends to severely and boldly criticise the wrong-doings of the American government. It is a quite deep record in this respect. The musical spectrum on the other hand is equally competent. With musicians from Fates Warning, Dream Theater, Gordian Knot and Chroma Key, one may expect the music to feature some top class technicality going on, but you won't find it here. O.S.I is more of an experimental project borrowing various compositional elements. You can hear a lot of acoustic guitar work by Matheos played in the classical Robert Fripp manner blended with Kevin Moore's heavily atmospheric songwriting attitude. Moore's foray into electronic textures is fiercely mixed with the rest of the instruments and almost through the entire album it is he who sets the alternately suspensful mood. Sean Malone plays fretless bass (that's just my understanding though as nothing of that is mentioned in the booklet) and this guy is without question a musical genius. You must check out both Gordian Knot albums to get a better scope of his talents. Mike Portnoy on drums once again proves to be one of the most amazing drummers ever. He uses his hands more than he uses his feet and his playing is rather restrained on the album. However, his tone is killer, one of his best ever, and he does cut loose from time to time to make everything all the more exciting. Just listen to "Dirt from a Holy Place" with good headphones. The 10-minute song "shutDOWN" is graced by guest singer Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) and, once again, even though Wilson makes this my favourite song on the record, I believe Daniel Gildenlow could have taken everything a step further here. Mike Portnoy's eerily beautiful cymbal work in the intro; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tage Mahal; Brand: Jon Oliva; Review: Savatage fans have been waiting for a solo album from Jon Oliva since 1994 if not longer. Jon always said he wanted to do a solo album where he would play each instrument himself but never seemed to find the time for it. Eventually, with Savatage being on hold and producer Paul O'Neill focusing on TSO, Jon Oliva hooked up with former Circle II Circle members and re-recorded the already written songs to make this more of a band effort. Personally I really expected to hear Jon play every instrument, including the guitar solos, but since the music on this album is excellent in its own way I am quite pleased with it. Accompanying Jon Oliva on the instrumentation are Matt LaPorte on guitars, Kevin Rothney on bass, Christopher Kinder on drums and John Zahner on keyboards. Zahner had also toured with Savatage back in 1992 on the Streets tour so he definitely shares and understands Jon's vision. The guys also do a lot of back vocals to bring more depth to the harmonies, which is a welcome change. Jon's inital plan was to name this project Jon Oliva's Tage Mahal but because of legal reasons they had to change to Pain. The reason they picked the name Tage Mahal is cause Criss Oliva (RIP), founding member and guitarist of Savatage, was planning to release a solo album and title it Tage Mahal before his untimely death. However since there already exists another band with this name I would have prefered it to be called merely Jon Oliva. I don't think the other members would mind since they must all be proud of playing for Jon. Anyway, it's the music that matters the most, so it's no big deal. This album is the first chapter of the trilogy (which means we shouldn't expect another Savatage album any time soon) and it mainly catalogs Jon's major influences. Bands like the Beatles, Black Sabbath, Queen and Deep Purple all hold an important place in the evolution of Jon's music and with this release he openly pays homage to most of these great bands as well as revisits the old days of Savatage. The songs were all written by Jon Oliva himself with the exception of "The Nonsensible Ravings of the Lunatic Mind" and "Outside the Door" co-written by Chris Caffery. While the former is highly reminiscent of the band's songs on the last Sava album Poets and Madmen, the latter is a nice laid-back track with a bluesy guitar feel to it. Former Savatage drummer Steve Wacholz also graces two songs, namely "No Escape" (with a Criss Oliva-like tapping solo) and "Nowhere to Run". This was Wacholz first recording in the last 10 years and it's great to have him back! Jon picked a perfect song to kick things off. "The Dark" is one of the most powerful songs on the record featuring a guitar solo that brings Criss Oliva's playing to mind and Jon Oliva going back to his late-80's days with face-ripping vocals. I bet everyone thinks that "People Say Gimme Some; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Air for Radios; Brand: Chroma Key; Review: Dead Air for Radios was released in 1998 after former Dream Theater keyboardist/songwriter Kevin Moore left the band to pursue other projects. After appearing on Fates Warning's ultimate masterpiece A Pleasant Shade of Gray, he began writing and recording his first ever solo album under the Chroma Key moniker. Fates Warning members Mark Zonder and Joey Vera helped him out with the magnificent rhythm section with an unknown guitarist named Jason Anderson (at least he's unknown to me) handling the guitar duties. The result was an extraordinary work of ambient-atmospheric textures you could only expect from someone as profound as Kevin Moore. I have to admit I am not overly familiar with this type of music but I think Chroma Key sounds like an eerie combination of Pink Floyd's non-prog stuff, Brian Eno and Peter Gabriel. The music presented on this disc is early 80's-synth laden stuff with a lot of spoken parts/dialogues intervening in between, but never taking away from the songs. They serve the purpose of conveying Kevin's lyrical statements. While many Dream Theater fans refer to the music on Chroma Key CDs as a continuation of Moore's song "Space-Dye Vest" on Dream Theater's Awake album, I beg to differ. The songs I heard on the two CK discs I own sound a lot more experimental with less emphasis put on the guitar work. Kevin's vocal melodies are vastly different too, yet his sparse piano themes do run in almost the entire album, so if that's what you're looking for, with an added touch of minimalism, then you will find yourself greatly immersed in this disc. Joey Vera and Mark Zonder feed the craft of the songs giving them a solid vibe. In order to create timeless songs, Kevin doesn't only get his inspiration from serious matters. The lyrics of "Mouse", for example, were inspired by a little mouse Kevin saw at a friend's house. Yet, the song is deep and really dense with great vocals and groovy bass lines. I really like the dynamics of each track on the album. The songs on the CD run the gamut from post-rock to electronic to ambient. It's all successfully blended thanks to the clever mind of Kevin Moore in the production process. "Colorblind" and "Even the Waves" are perfect choices to set the tone of the album. The tape loop at the beginning of "Even the Waves" is haunting in the truest meaning of the word. Mark Zonder proves to be an intelligent and extremely tasteful drummer once again in the way he utilises his cymbal work. The song also features a guitar 'solo' by Anderson which glues everything together nicely. Without doubt, "Undertow" (co-written by Zonder) and "On the Page" are most CK fans' favourites. The rhytmic, yet almost static, drum beat is played with determination and Kevin's lush piano work has recurring themes. "On the Page" interweaves another 'catchy' vocal melody with deeply searing lyrics ("Life is much more cleaner on the page") and an exceptionally beautiful looped piano theme. "America the Video" and "Camera 4" are Kevin's testimony; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nothingface; Brand: Voivod; Review: The year is 1989 and practically every Thrash Metal band is trying to release another 'heavy & aggressive' album to cash in on it while Canada's Voivod releases Nothingface. The album contains an excellent cover of Pink Floyd's "Astronomy Domine" and the video gets considerable rotation from MTV to introduce the new sound and direction of Voivod. This was the first album I bought of theirs and to this day I consider it a timeless classic regardless of any genre. What sets Nothingface away from any other release out there is that it is the very first record (along with Fates Warning's Perfect Symmetry) to truly bring the Rush influence into Progressive Metal in a way that was fresh. As Voivod's main goal was to be different than other bands, with each following release, they incorporated odd time signatures, key and tempo changes and futuristic lyrics in their songs. And, without doubt, Nothingface is their finest moment. It has already taken its place as a historic recording in the evolution of Progressive Metal. The (timeless) music presented on this album sees the Canadian band largely exploring other areas and experimenting with a unique style of writing and performing. No longer a Thrash Metal act, guitarist Denis D'Amour and bassist Jean-Yves Theriault lay off a virtuosic overkill of riffs that are seamlessly blended and carried to a new musical platform. Denis Belanger's vocal melodicism is heavily stressed and perhaps his finest job to date. However, the drumming on the album has got to be the most brilliant aspect of the musicianship. His odd-metered approach gives the music a level of depth and credibility. Michel Langevin's performance on this disc (as well as other Voivod releases) is nothing short of amazing. He has a tasty style which is heightened to levels of excellence by his complex and multi-facetted polyrhythm work. The perfect harmony between the bass and drums proves to be one of the tightest and most impressive rhythm sections ever! The bass is a wall of relentless throbbing but it is cleverly kept in the context of the song. Most of the bass and guitar lines are played in opposition to one another and they are surrounded by a sonic intensity that is virtually impossible to verbalise. It really is so difficult to believe that this album was recorded in 1989 -- it was way ahead of its time in every respect from musicianship to lyrics to production. Throughout the whole 43-minute disc, time signatures continue to shift, blur, change and re-invent themselves. With Voivod eventually letting their Prog Rock influences (Pink Floyd, Rush and King Crimson) seep in, the result is a powerful record with incredible aesthetics. D'Amour's razor-sharp guitar riffs are creepily worked into the mix giving each song a unique vibe. Belanger delivers deeply thought-provoking lyrics which seem to have improved greatly compared to their pre-1987 releases. The lyrical content, albeit a bit hard to grasp immediately, is as profound as the listener wants it to be. The subject matter seems to deal with how technology takes over the world; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Awake; Brand: Dream Theater; Review: Originally released in October 1994, I picked this album up because I was fed up with how the grunge scene had taken over the days of 80's Metal bands. Awake not only proved to be a much needed breath of fresh air, but it was also the first Dream Theater record I ever bought and made me genuinely more interested in Progressive Metal which they so successfully pioneered in the early 90's. Dream Theater paved the way for hundreds of other bands -- and they did it when the Prog Metal genre was no where near popular as it is today! -- and Awake is without doubt one of their most amazing, profound and timeless masterpieces ever. The album clocks in at exactly 75 minutes featuring a total of eleven tracks all of which add to the unity and cohesiveness of this ageless record. There are certain recurring themes to be found here, on separate tracks, which serve the purpose of giving Awake its ultimate character. Be it the keyboard melody in "The Mirror" (depicting Mike Portnoy's bold fight with his alcohol problems) played in a lush manner by Kevin Moore during the mid-section; the main riff introduced after the frenzied guitar work on the instrumental track "Erotomania"; or the album-closer "Space-Dye Vest", this recurring theme eerily glues the whole album together even though it's not a concept album per se. That said, Awake is a dark, dangerously heavy, and musically complex creation which, unlike the band's other two magnum opuses, I&W and SFAM, to this day, remains unrivaled and perfect. I am literally struggling as I try to do justice to this record reviewing it after having listened to it for ten long years. That is because Awake works on a variety of levels; lyrically, musically and even production-wise. Each song on this CD relates to a (dark) feeling and internal conflict and therefore guides us through each member's inner world (even John Myung wrote the lyrics for a song) as we pay attention to the lyrics. Kevin Moore wrote words for the album opener "6:00", "Lie" and "Space-Dye Vest". His lyrics are introspective in nature and challenging to sing as they demand different vocal harmonies. Petrucci's lyrical work is more abstract yet eerily easy to identify with: he explores religious conflicts along side personal problems, while Mike Portnoy proves to be a stunning lyricist leaving plenty of room for vocalist James Labrie to thoroughly shine through, especially in the chorus of "The Mirror". The absence of mainstream elements and the band refusing to compromise on any level further strenghten this piece elevating it even higher. The whole record has a lucid layer of atmosphere around it built by none other than Kevin Moore whose opaque minimalism delicately blankets each song as the rest of the band members seamlessly blend their musical instrumentation. Moore's contribution to Awake is immense! His songwriting is creepy, bordering on uncomfortable. His agile melodies never cease to hop in and out of the focus of each track. After listening to Awake, I can see why he; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Astray; Brand: Matthew Parmenter; Review: As the Amazon description reveals, Matthew Parmenter's first solo album Astray is the ultimate melting pot of dark, deep and heavily introspective songwriting. Parmenter is American underground prog band Discipline's frontman, but Discipline hasn't released any albums since 1997 if I'm not mistaken. I was rather surprised to find out Parmenter had returned with a brooding solo offering titled Astray, which proves to be a significant improvement in many ways. Not only that, but it is also a true 'solo' album in the way that Matthew Parmenter basically plays every instrument except the bass. He sings, plays the piano, guitar, drums, saxophone, violin, organ, synths, mellotron and a number of other instruments. His Discipline bandmate Matthew Kennedy accompanies him with his subtle bass lines. Parmenter recorded, mixed, produced and engineered Astral as well. The outcome is brilliant and his diversity has to be respected. From what I know, the only other artist who has played every instrument on a solo album is Dan Swano on his Moontower record (though the two musicians play quite a different style of prog). "Now" welcomes the listener with a strangely beautiful piano melody that creeps into the song mixing with jazzy drumming. Parmenter's drum work is nothing short of brilliant. The way he plays with the cymbals and gives more emphasis on content rather than technique is nicely displayed here. His singing seems different; more mature in a way. There is a distinct Peter Hamill feel to be found but the music is more in the league of Gabriel-era Genesis. Brief guitar lines run underneath the dark atmosphere of the song with fat, pulsing bass throbs. All these overlapped instruments are blended to give the mosaic of "Now" its final character. I had to hear this track five times in a row before I could move on to the next song, and I must say it's still my favourite on the CD along with the 21-minute "Modern Times". The momentum is reduced as "Distracted" and "Dirty Mind" work their way through the clutter of the record. More jazz piano and an improvised instrumental section become the focal point of the songs displaying a varied complexity throughout the music. I am strangely reminded of another indie band, maudlin of the Well, while listening to parts of Astray. It must be the way the classical formation is amalgamated with free-style jazz. No one else may agree about this comparison though. The guitar work on "Dirty Mind" is very bluesy in context and it works impeccably. A tired organ opens "Another Vision" with blurry drumming in the far edge of the mix. Parmenter's fragile vocals are delicately layered over the composition and all you have to do is close your eyes and be drawn by the intensity of his singing. By the time the song reaches its finale, you are fully convinced that Parmenter has certainly entered a realm of maturity. This is progressive music gone dark, without relying on the 'neo' tag as the music presented here sounds surprisingly fresh despite being 70's inspired. The protagonist in "Some; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ocean Mind; Brand: Divine Regale; Review: It is strange how you can like an album so much with each passing year. Usually it works the other way round. You pick up a record, you love it, you keep playing it for months and then you need to take a break. When you revisit it a while later, you may still like it, but it no longer excites you as much as it did the first time. With Divine Regale's first and only full-length piece Ocean Mind (they released an EP titled Horizons in 1996), things have been different. I obtained this disc years ago, maybe in 2000 or even 1999. I liked it fine, but thought it was nothing special. Then, especially in the last two years, I came to realise how amazing this album really is. Each passing year has revealed its brilliance and brought out the depth of their lyrical content. I got used it to it and now consider it one of the finest debut albums ever. If Queensryche had put out a record between Empire and Promised Land in 1992 or something, it would probably sound like Ocean Mind. Obviously each member of Divine Regale were huge fans of this band, but there is also a good dose of Fates Warning to be heard here, mainly in the way the drums were performed, not to mention the darkness factor. The album has the melodic side of Empire combined with the highly progressive side of Promised Land. The production, however, makes this a bit different. It's quite claustrophobic, which may be the reason why I couldn't get into it right away. Then there is vocalist Dwight Hill whose voice is quite reminiscent of Geoff Tate in his prime, but perhaps an octave lower. He also seems to bring Ray Alder to mind on some spots. Mainly he prefers to stay in a safe mid-rage vocal style rarely going too high or low. He does come up with some excellent vocal melodies that need to be studied hard though. Just check out the vocal melody at 2:18 going up to 2:27 on the ballad "Leaves" where he truly shines as a singer. "Underworld", taken from their Horizons EP, displays Hill's incredible range during the chorus. He literally steals the show on that track. With two axemen, Divine Regale has a pretty solid guitar tandem consisting of Daniel Elliott and Gary Leighton. Although very well equipped technically, neither guitarist goes too far with 'noodling' or so-called technical virtuosity. They both know their place and always serve the songs. There are plenty of guitar solos though; the title song features both players trading off guitar runs and it's done really well. When one of them lays down a textured riff alongside the bass, the other player provides a nice contrast with his smooth and fluid solo. It really helps bring the song a new dimension. Melodicism is blended with progressiveness throughout the entire disc and never sacrificed for the sake of heaviness or commercial appeal. Keyboardist Jason Keazer doesn't enter the songs too often, but when he does,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lost Christmas Eve; Brand: Trans-Siberian Orchestra; Review: Not being a Christian country, we don't celebrate Christmas in Turkey. Therefore, the lyrical content on TSO albums (except Beethoven's Last Night) has never been of much significance to me. I have been following them because I happen to be a big fan of Savatage whose music I enjoy a lot. TSO producer Paul O'Neill and and main songwriter Jon Oliva have been exploring a different kind of music in their side-project (which eventually turned into another full-time band) and The Lost Christmas Eve is the last album of their Christmas trilogy. I personally think their previous disc Beethoven's Last Night is better than all three Christmas discs put together and wasn't really enthusiastic about The Lost Christmas Eve as I tend to grow tired of TSO's Christmas stuff after a while whereas BLN continues to remain an ageless masterpiece. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I heard The Lost Christmas Eve. While the first TSO release may, to most fans, still be their best among their Christmas albums, this one is without doubt the darkest, heaviest and most progressive of the three. This may be due to the fact that it shares a good amount of common characteristics with Beethoven's Last Night: hauntingly melodic songwriting and relentlessly heavy musicianship! On the other hand, it continues to expand upon the synthesis of progressive music and textured soundscapes previously established on their first two Christmas records. There is also a stronger emphasis on vocal arrangements here with more dynamic song structures. Paul O'Neill's primary songwriting partner, Jon Oliva, didn't contribute to The Lost Christmas Eve as much as before, mainly because he was busy with his solo album (which you should check out as well), but Paul O'Neill proves to be stronger than ever. He wrote all lyrics and most of the music himself with the exception of some tunes where he was accompanied by other writing partners such as Rob Kinkel and Al Pitrelli. Special mention goes to Pitrelli who, as the musical director of TSO, certainly leaves his imprint on most of the songs, particularly the amazing album-opener "Faith Noel", the mid-section on "Wizard in Winter", the Mozart-influenced "Queen of the Winter Night", and the "Christas Jazz" and "Christmas Jam" masterpieces. Former Savatage axeman Alex Skolnick as well as Paul O'Neill himself among others also play some impressive leads and rhythms throughout the disc. I do agree that it would have been to cool to hear Jon Oliva singing lead on a couple of songs, but I feel none of the tracks on The Lost Christmas Eve are suitable for him. I know that "Back to a Reason pt. 2" is actually a song off of Savatage's last record Poets and Madmen, but Robert Evan who sings it on this disc does a fantastic rendition, especially in the ending when he switches to different lyrics and vocal stylings. Evan also defines the other two tracks he appears on, "What is Christmas?" and "What Child is This?", both of which have a certain BLN flavour to them. Paul O'Neill, however, could have; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The System Has Failed; Brand: Megadeth; Review: I'm glad I've never given up on giving Megadeth another shot. With each release since Youthanasia, they disappointed me to some extent, but with the exception of the abysmal Risk, I always thought their albums still had some truly shining moments. While their previous effort, despite its great lineup with Al Pitrelli, didn't do it for me, I did believe that Mustaine could come up with something cool if he honestly wanted. Anyway, with the 'break-up' of the band and its reformation with new guys minus Dave Ellefson on bass, Megadeth is back. About the absence of Dave Ellefson, it's no big deal as this wasn't meant to be a Megadeth disc to begin with, it was supposed to be Dave Mustaine's first solo album, but it eventually came out with the Deth moniker thanks to label pressure. Personally I don't care what it's called as long as Dave comes up with interesting ideas and creative songwriting. Which he succeeded in doing on The System Has Failed. Yes, like everyone else has said, this is not Thrash Metal. However, that doesn't bug me. Megadeth hasn't been truly Thrash since 1994? 1992? This is good Heavy Metal with a few thrashy overtones here and there and a fairly competent lineup. Drummer Vinnie Colaiuta is without doubt the greatest drummer that has ever played in Megadeth; however the songwriting for the drumming is no where near as good as the RIP era with Menza. Chris Poland on lead guitar is a much welcome addition to the fold, since Marty wouldn't accept Dave's invitation. The System Has Failed is the best Megadeth album since Youthanasia, but it's not true that it's RIP part 2 or anything like that. The writing, however, is strong and subtle. Contrary to most fans, I happen to like Mustaine's singing too, even the 'melodic' parts. The lyrics are classic Deth dealing with the band's late 80's and early 90's stuff but they also border on post-Youth stuff from time to time. The first four songs are truly amazing. "Blackmail the Universe" immediately impresses with its fiery dual guitars trading off wild solos and bringing the RIP/CTE songs to mind. Chris Poland's guitar work is easily discernible thanks to his trademark sound and the song simply rocks with its politically charged lyrics. "Die Dead Enough" picks up with an amazingly killer opening riff and delves into a catchy chorus. Apparently some fans were turned off by that, but I personally dig it. The solo in here literally shreds you to pieces. No wonder why Dave chose to make "Kick the Chair" available first. This tune has the heaviest and most aggressive intro since Youthanasia. The riffs suggest Mustaine's great sense of melody combined with Pentatonic riffing and powerful vocals. "Scorpion" has a jaw-dropping drum attack which makes you look for more (Colaiuta is a monster drummer!) but unfortunately there isn't much room for him to display his talents fully. Once again Mustaine experiments with beautiful vocal harmonies and Chris Poland lays down a descending guitar solo. From now on, the album; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Keep It To Yourself; Brand: MullMuzzler; Review: Keep it to Yourself is the debut solo album of Mullmuzzler, which is Dream Theater vocalist James Labrie's solo project. Labrie decided put this disc out in 1999 when he was approached by the Magna Carta label executives. Supporting him on the instrumentation (and songwriting) were Shadow Gallery and Magellan members as well as many others. Don't be fouled by the "solo album" tag since there is plenty of room for each musician to display their skilled musicianship and add their creative input in the songs. Labrie's biggest songwriting partner is without doubt Dali's Dilemma keyboardist Matt Guillory (who plays even a bigger role on the second Mullmuzzler disc). Guillory is an extremely accomplished musician; not only does he play his instrument perfectly, but he is also a terrific composer who brings each song a new dimension. Feel free to check out the debut Zero Hour record if you want to hear him cut loose and shred his heart out. Guillory co-wrote three songs on Keep it to Yourself, namely the first two songs "His Voice" and "Statued", plus the experimental "Lace". The first two tracks are easily my favourite numbers on this disc, and I believe it's because of the undeniable Guillory influence. Both songs are relatively heavier and more dynamic than the others and filled with meticulous orchestration, sparse piano and keyboard work with calculated bass by Bryan Beller and excellent guitar runs by Mike Keneally (Zappa, Vai, Beer for Dolphins). James Labrie's vocals on this album are significantly different than his stuff with Dream Theater. This is understandable, since Mullmuzzler gives him the chance to do things he can't do in DT and experiment with new musical ideas. "Statued" picks up where "His Voice" leaves off and delves into a thunderous drum attack by one of the world's greatest drummers, Mike Mangini (Extreme, Steve Vai, Annihilator), and showcases more liberate bass lines from guitarist Mike Keneally's bandmate. The song has several stop-and-start sections with mood and tempo shifts. I really enjoy the sense of contrast exhibited in this tune. Each song has something different to offer. "Shores of Avalon" may be one of the more accessible tracks. It begins with nice Egyptian riffing and gives way to a beautifully composed, warm guitar solo played by Mike Keneally. No wonder why Frank Zappa called him "his best student ever". Check this guy's solo albums out as well. It's not just chops like Steve Vai; this guy writes MUSIC. Needless to say, this being a solo effort, there is a strong emphasis on vocal arrangements, and since it's Terry Brown of Rush and Fates Warning fame who handles the crisp production here, lots of subtleties shine through. Besides "Shores of Avalon", "Guardian Angel", "Sacrifice", and "Slow Burn" were also co-written by Shadow Gallery members. Their input is easily recognisable, especially Carl-Cadden James'. Give a listen to the mathematic guitar run on "Guardian Angel" (sounds like Gary Wehrkamp loves that) or the dense acoustics on the ballads "Sacrifice" and "Slow Burn", the latter which features a poignant guitar solo. "Beelzebubba" is the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Destination Anywhere; Brand: Bon Jovi; Review: Destination Anywhere is Jon Bon Jovi's second solo effort, released nearly seven years after its predecessor. The album, at first, wasn't received too well by the press and the Bon Jovi fans, who were obviously expecting a return-to-the-roots kind of an album. However, Jon Bon Jovi had a different vision he wanted to realise. Most of the songs weren't even penned in the hopes of releasing a solo album to begin with; on the contrary, they came to life during Jon Bon Jovi's foray into motion picture (which was a failure in itself) and songs he wrote during his acting career. Eventually, when it turned out that he had enough material, he teamed up with renowned producer Stephen Lironi to finish the final product. The fact that all the songs were written in different parts of the world, such as Los Angeles, Philadelphia, London, Vienna, Amsterdam, etc. shows that this wasn't to be a real album in the first place. Therefore there are a good number of different producers, sound engineers, lineup, and even a different approach to songwriting to be found here. That said, Jon Bon Jovi did manage to give the album a cohesive feel, despite its varied structure, and while the music isn't all that Bon Jovi-ish, he definitely made a good choice by releasing this album as a solo effort, rather than a BJ rock anthem. The result is an intimate and introspective album that deals with a more meaty subject matter, Jon's admission that he's no longer in his twenties, and a man who's come to terms with his life. The music here is understandably different than what you'd normally hear on a Bon Jovi release. Lots of synths, loops, programmed drums and different production techniques are blended with Jon's emotional vocal delivery and deeply engaging lyrical work. There aren't many catchy tunes here (and the ones that are meant to be catchy unfortunately don't work), but more low-key songs with experimental attitudes. Songs like "Queen of New Orleans" and "Midnight in Chelsea" have a rather inorganic vibe to them; they are way too modern and alternative sounding for an artist like Jon. Hence, they don't mash too well with the other compositions. However, songs like "Every Word Was a Piece of My Heart" (featuring top-model Helena Christensen on back-ups), "Staring at Your Window with a Suitcase in my Hand" (with great lyrics that go like 'You think you know me because you know my name/ You think you see me 'cause you've seen every line on my face') and "It's Just Me" with a sorrowful guitar piece that blankets the whole composition are really solid. Jon himself plays a good number of instruments, be it the acoustic guitar on "Janie, Don't Take Your Love to Town", the harmonica on the Desmond-Child produced number "Ugly", and even some electric guitar on the title track. Sadly, some of the tracks fall short because of the poorly written programmed drums, weak synths and uninspired choruses like the ones on "Naked" or the 'singles' of this CD. "August 7, 4:15"; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blood and Belief; Brand: Blaze; Review: Blaze's third studio album picks up where Silicon Messiah and Tenth Dimension left off, but it moves on a different musical path this time. The most notable difference is in the lyrical department. As opposed to writing theme albums as in his previous record Tenth Dimension, Blood and Belief is characterized heavily by Blaze's personal life. It must have taken a lot of courage to pen down his problems and share them with his fans. Not every other artist would have the balls to write such heartfelt and honest lyrics, so kudos to Blaze! The album starts with "Alive" and is immediately followed by "Ten Seconds". Both songs are the kind of songs you would expect to hear on straightforward heavy metal albums with their melodic guitar solos and catchy choruses. The title track, like his previous solo efforts, kicks in right after the first two (or three in Tenth Dimension) songs and is one of the most powerful songs on the disc. I really like how the song builds up but I feel the title tracks on both Silicon Messiah and Tenth Dimension are a bit stronger. Nothing wrong with "Blood and Belief", it's just that it is a bit repetitive and loosely structured. The following songs are all lyrically connected in the way that they depict Blaze's alcohol problem he had to deal with in the last two years. "Tearing Myself to Pieces" is perhaps my favourite song on this album and it mercilessly describes Blaze's self-destructive condition where he had to depend on alcohol to get rid of his problems. I read in an interview where Blaze mentioned there was a time in his life when he was in depression and he was picked up by the police in the middle of the street and they had to call his wife to come and collect him. Likewise "Hollow Head" is a song how he overcame his obstacles and personal problems with the help of his psychiatrist. "Will to Win", despite its heavily Iron Maiden-ish feel, is about his survival and Blaze's warrior nature. Lyrically it's about a person who doesn't want to conform to the rules set by the society but live his life his own way. "Regret" is my second favourite tune and the lyrics speak for themselves. I believe this tune might go overlooked by some fans like "Identity" off Silicon Messiah did, but I really think this is a great tune. Overall the album retains the dark vibe we've all grown to like Blaze albums for but also incorporates more melodic passages and mid-tempo riffs than his previous CDs. With a completely new rhythm section on board, bassist Wayne Banks and drummer Jason Bowld have added their own touch to the flow of the songs. Long-time producer Andy Sneap has once again joined forces with Blaze, and Sneap being a very talented guitar player, he knew very well how to bring out the best in John Slater and Steve Wray. They both do an impressive job as far as the guitar work is concerned. While Wray's; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ink Compatible; Brand: Spastic Ink; Review: Ink Compatible is the second Spastic Ink release and it differs from the debut in some significant aspects. First of all, unlike the first disc, this one is not all instrumental. Watchtower singer Jason McCaster sings on five tracks and Pain of Salvation vocalist Daniel Gildenlow also appears on one song as a guest. In addition, besides the core members, there are several other guest contributors to this disc. They range from Jens Johansson on keys to Sean Malone and Michael Manring on bass to Jeff Eber and David Penna on drums, and to Marty Friedman on guitars, just to name a few. The music being written entirely by Ron Jarzombek and with Jason McMaster lending his vocals to more than half of the songs, it is quite safe to say that some of the heaviness of Watchtower is carried over to this album. Ron's second solo album, Solitarily Speaking of Theoretical Confinement, also seems to have had an impact on this release. McMaster's vocals may take a little time to adjust to if you expect to hear the vocal stylings of bands like Zero Hour and Spiral Architect. I've never been a great fan of McMaster's voice, but it gets better every time I listen to it and he does a fairly good job overall. The first track, "Aquanet", exemplifies his tough delivery but it gradually becomes euphonious in the following songs. Speaking of "Aquanet", this is a very interesting piece as it begins with the sound of a modem connecting, and this is not some kind of sample or anything, but actually played by Ron on guitars. Jens Johansson plays a frenzied synth solo in the middle part before Ron goes back to his whacky guitar shredding. "Words for Nerds" reveals the main theme of Ink Compatible. Throughout the album, Ron explores humanity's interaction with computers and technology. One little complaint, not just for this particular tune but all of them in general, is that there are some spoken segments on some tracks (usually by a woman and a man respectively), and while they seem interesting first, after months of listening to this disc, it seems the segments Ron sandwiched right in the middle of the tunes may seem a bit out of place, especially when they tend to pop out during contrasting key and guitar solos. They do serve their purpose right when they are introduced in the beginning and ending of the songs though. The apex of the song is when Attention Deficit bassist Michael Manring honours this disc with a killer fretless bass solo. What a jawdropping performance indeed. "Melissa's Friend" is one of my favourite songs on the album; it features Daniel Gildenlow on vocals (Ron should have done the entire disc with him!) and Daniel literally graces this tune with a stunning vocal delivery similar to his singing on the One Hour by the Concrete Lake disc. It's a song about computer viruses where Daniel utters a number of virus names, if I'm not mistaken. Riot's Pete Perez plays funky bass figures engulfed in brief; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Awaken the Guardian; Brand: Fates Warning; Review: Most prog metal fans overlook this masterpiece for some reason. To them, it all starts with Fates Warning's Perfect Symmetry, which is agreeable, since Perfect Symmetry is the band's first actual foray into prog metal. However, Awaken the Guardian, given its release date, was one of the driving forces of prog metal when a term as "prog metal" didn't even exist. Released almost 20 years ago, Awaken the Guardian is still as perfect as it was way back. This was the first Fates Warning disc I ever bought and I still listen to it on a regular basis. With each passing year, I re-discover its brilliance and impact on the genre. This band is kind of like Psychotic Waltz who were also as amazing and influential but were always overlooked by the masses. If you've never listened to pre-Parallels period Fates Warning, then you might be pleasantly surprised. Awaken the Guardian is the last album with original singer John Arch and the best in my opinion. Arch seriously defined the sound of Fates Warning on the fist three releases since he co-wrote each song with guitarist Jim Matheos. He co-wrote each song on ATG as well, except the instrumental piece, "Time Long Past". Of note is that Arch co-wrote "Giant's Lore (Heart of Winter)" with second guitarist Frank Aresti and I believe this is the only track in the entire Fates Warning catalog that wasn't written by Jim Matheos. I said it before and I'll reiterate: John Arch is one of the most amazing singers that has ever walked the face of the earth. He can wail like every other screamer out there, but what's more is, he can still retain melody hitting those high notes. Unfortunately, Awaken the Guardian was the last album he did before he disappeared for 17 years only to return with a two-track solo project where he proved his voice was still as amazing as ever. The lineup on Awaken the Guardian differs greatly from their current one, or vice versa. With a second guitarist, Frank Aresti, who plays unique DARK acoustic pieces, as well as lead solos alongside Matheos; original drummer Steve Zimmerman, who is very different from demigod Mark Zonder, but equally competent and intense in his own way; and bassist Joe DiBiase, who is more of a traditional Heavy Metal bass guitarist than someone like Joey Vera, this album sees the band blending its traditional metal roots with their branched-out technicality and more progressive approach to songwriting. The music offers a wide array of musical diversity that will appeal to any metal fan, regardless of the genres they're attached to. Matheos and Aresti play sharp, heavy and aggressive guitar riffs with extensive solos that will please any metalhead. As I mentioned above, Aresti lays down some really evil acoustic guitars, like the one in the intro, "The Sorceress". That is perhaps the most evil intro on any Fates Warning album. There is more of this plucked acoustic guitar to be heard on "Guardian" as well as on the instrumental track, "Time Long Past". The; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fragile Art of Existence; Brand: Control Denied; Review: The Fragile Art of Existence is renowned Death guitarist/singer Chuck Shuldiner's swan song to his fans before he lost his two-year battle against cancer in the end of 2001. Interestingly, Chuck was in the process of composing/recording his follow-up to this album, but unfortunately nothing has come of it. Control Denied was his side project which he had put together in order to concentrate more on his guitar playing and unique songwriting. Chuck does not do his trademarked death vocals on this one. Enter Tim Aymar (Psycho Scream, Pharaoh) with traditional Heavy Metal-like vocals that are often compared to the likes of Rob Halford, Warrel Dane and Bruce Dickinson. While I don't hear the Dickinson influence, I tend to agree with the Halford/Dane comparisons to an extent, as Tim Aymar belts out some scary high screams like Halford and possesses a similar delivery to Dane. You need to check out his band Pharaoh if you want to hear more of that. This album was originally intended to have Nevermore singer Warrel Dane on vocals, but things didn't work out and Tim Aymar got the gig. I love Warrel Dane's vocals to no end, but Tim Aymar really gives this album its final touch as a killer frontman. Shannon Hamm shares the guitar duties with Chuck, often playing cutting thrash-based riffs that sharply contrast Chuck's ethereal and textural playing which often spiral into crushing metal riffage during the solos and mid-sections of the tunes. Both guitarists interlock thrashy riffs alongside some curious tremelo picking and even add some plucked acoustic guitars ("When the Link Becomes Missing") which are later embraced by a forceful, melodic metal drive. The solo in this song is possibly my favourite on the album together with Chuck's textural playing in the closing track. It's a solo that builds up very slowly and becomes this intense, passionate expression towards the end -- it simply sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it. Steve DiGiorgio and Richard Christy continue to be an unmatchable duo in thrash/death metal driven music as DiGiorgio plays fat bass figures as well as interesting funky melodies, as in the intro of "What If ...?", and works his bass as an independent instrument throughout the whole album. Richard Christy is a great fit for this type of music, though I feel his snare sound gets a little muffled in some parts because of the mix, but he proves to be the perfect drummer for Control Denied in the way he exhibits powerful synchopated rhythms and technically impossible drum fills. What makes The Fragile Art of Existence so great, in my opinion, is that it consists of only eight tracks and has a total running time of 50 minutes. There are no fillers here; each song is compositionally-strong, graced by brilliant musicianship and a fitting production (by Chuck and Jim Morris). The progressive side explored on Death's last album, The Sound of Perseverance, is even more boldly carried over to this album, particularly in the multi-textured "Expect the Unexpected", which not only has a great vocal; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Faces; Brand: Chris Caffery; Review: Savatage has been on hold for years; producer Paul O'Neill is concentrating on TSO, Jon Oliva is doing his solo project, and so, not surprisingly, guitarist Chris Caffery has also released his first solo album recently. The album will definitely interest old-school Savatage fans who want to hear tons of guitar solos, heavy and aggressive vocals, and less symphonic/progressive arrangements. Chris Caffery's Faces will, no doubt, deliver if that's what you're looking for. However, I beg to differ from the previous reviewers who deem this disc as perfect and flawless. Well, far from it, Faces and especially the bonus disc, God Damn War, do have their downsides, which I'll address in the following paragraphs of this review. But first the positive aspects... Faces contains sixteen tracks and over 76 minutes of music. It was decided that this record would contain music that would represent different facets (or "FACES") of Caffery's music. Overall, the album is raw, heavy and agressive throughout. It refuses to slow down for even two subsequent tracks, but continues to rock hard delivering in-your-face type of vintage Savatage. After giving this disc its first set of spins, you'll find yourself thinking, "Is this Caff or Jon Oliva on vocals?". It's certainly a great surprise that Caff can actually sing this good, but after listening to the album for a couple of months, different sort of questions start to pop up: "Well, Caff can sing for sure, but doesn't his voice lack character in the way it sounds too Oliva-ish, even for the biggest Oliva fans?". I'd be more interested in hearing a more personal vocal statement from Caffery rather than him trying way too hard to emulate Jon's UNIQUE vocal stylings. However, knowing it's going to please pretty much everyone out there, I digress. Chris Caffery handles pretty much every aspect of this album, including all guitars, lyrics, vocals, etc. However, the fact that he also tried to have a finger in the production process unfortunately detracts from the vocals. Try listening to several albums from different genres on your stereo, and then pop Faces in, everything will sound great except the vocals. They've been obviously muffled during the mastering process. Caff thinks it's a good production for a debut release, but I know better than that. This record was meant to be as perfect as possible, since day one. However, once the CD came out and people started questioning the validity of the vocal production, Caff became rather defensive. No worries though, the album sounds absolutely great if you hear it with good headphones. All the other instruments sound great. Caff plays acoustic guitars, rhythm and lead. Savatage drummer Jeff Plate supports him on drums and Dave Z is on bass. There are few keys present here, but it's not completely devoid of keyboard and piano work. Paul Morris plays them in a very fitting manner. I hear a good dose of Doctor Butcher on this album. Not just in the vocals, but also the music. Caffery doesn't abandon his Savatage roots completely either. You'll hear interesting symphonic; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brave New World; Brand: Iron Maiden; Review: After Bruce Dickinson's departure from Maiden in 1994, the much controversial Blaze-era of the band, despite various attempts on Harris' side, failed to appease the larger Maiden fanbase. On the other hand, Bruce was releasing excellent albums, such as Accident of Birth and The Chemical Wedding, but his sales numbers were no where near as good as classic Maiden's. A reunion was more than necessary for both sides and everyone knew they had to do their best to get Maiden back up on its feet as strong as ever. And the new album delivered successfully! Brave New World is as good as any 80's Maiden classic; it is also one of the most amazing, satifying come-back albums ever. Some people had their concerns about Bruce and Adrian's return, they thought Maiden had lost it already, be it with or without Bruce at the helm. Well, they were all proven wrong, thankfully. Both Bruce and Adrian bring the glorious 80's days of Maiden back; and while Adrian Smith doesn't do much songwriting on this record, he's definitely there 100% -- his presence in the compositions is easily noticed as Steve Harris certainly did not interfere in choosing the colour of Adrian's sound. Adrian is there to reach certain atmospheres, give Maiden its much-missed unique blessing. That said, he did co-write two tracks, the magnificent opening tune "The Wicker Man" and "Fallen Angel". "The Wicker Man" is not only the ultra-perfect choice to start the album, but it is also one of the greatest album-openers in the entire Iron Maiden back catalog. It's compact (not overly drawn-out like the opener of The X Factor!), melodically enhanced, and carefully composed to have gripping sing-along choruses on tour, which proved perfect on the band's following live album, Rock in Rio. The two 'immediate epic' tunes on the record are the title track, also co-written by Bruce, and the 100% Harris penned, "Blood Brothers". These two songs will immediately stick out upon initial listens, showcasing every aspect of Iron Maiden's brilliance as an ensemble. The title track starts with a nice keyboard melody, as its sparse notes transform into a crashing Heavy Metal anthem. The song features all three guitarists playing magnificent solos that are, thanks to Kevin Shirley's magical mix, distinctive in style, tone, and phrasing. "Blood Brothers" has fluid guitar lines in its intro decorated with Nicko's cymbals ringing in the background secretly. As the song develops, a powerfully intense guitar theme sharply soars above the almost symphonic-like arrangement. It's really amazing. "The Mercenary" is by some considered a filler, but I've always loved it mainly because of Bruce's vocals in the chorus, especially how he goes, "Show them no fear, show them no PAIN!". Brave New World needed this type of songs ("Ghost of the Navigator", "The Mercenary, "Out of the Silent Planet", etc.) to keep things in balance, with all the other lengthy pieces. Take "Dream of Mirrors", it is the longest song on this disc, not only that, but also one of my favourite Iron Maiden songs, ever. Give a listen to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ANCHOR DROPS; Brand: Umphrey's McGee; Review: Umphrey's McGee is a Chicago-based American (jam) band. From what I read on the internet, they've been around since the mid-90's and they've released a bunch of studio and live albums as well as a DVD. I haven't heard any of those recordings before; Anchor Drops is their first European release and the only one I've heard from them so far. Initial spins of this album revealed that Umphrey's McGee are a fairly impressive jam band with heavy emphasis on improvisation, challenging and jazzy song structures, complex and funky rhythm work, bluesy guitar grooves, etc. Their style is certainly varied and quite unpredictable. After listening to this disc a good many times, I read a few interviews of the band which made it clear that Anchor Drops actually sees them playing a relatively more restrained form of music compared to their previous records. If that's the case, one can only say this band may want to go into a more defined style music-wise, as I believe they tend to branch out a bit too much during some moments. It's great their songs offer so much diversity and blend myriad of styles, but some songs being developed entirely by improvasation techniques sound a tad direction-less if you know what I mean. Other than that, the musicianship is extremely tight displaying interesting tempo changes, colourful cymbal work, complex drum patterns and melodically charged guitar solos, plus competent vocals from four out of the six members. The songs on this 64-minute disc are deeply rooted in freeform jazz enhanced by various instruments including a separate percussion player named Andy Farag who adds tribal rhythms from South American music as well as funky beats. The first set of songs are more energetic sonically. Take the speedy opener "Plunger", it's full of gigantic guitar riffs, plodding bass lines, unison solos, and alternating rhytms between complex harmonies and improvised polyrhythms. The second half of the CD is more varied, both in style and tempo. "Uncommon" and "Jajunk Pt. 1" are slow tracks with great piano melodies, tribal rhythms and interesting percussion. "Walletworth" sounds almost like a country song with female back-up vocals, whilst "Robot World", as its name suggests, contains a technically crazy funk intro carefully blended with intricate drumming (the drumming is tight throughout the whole disc and perhaps the most powerful element on this disc) and analog moogs played by guitarist Jake Cinninger. There is even an electronic piece, "Mulch's Odyssey", with small doses of electronic beats to widen the album's scope. "Wife Soup" is one of the better songs on the CD as it greatly impresses thanks to the frantic instrumental passage that runs through it. This track is contrasted by the bluesy tune, "Pequod", starting with sorrowful vocals and shifting to a groovy metal drive. All of this is backed by silent piano notes. The album ends with an all acoustic instrumental. The final result is certainly worth listening to, but a bit too broad. It's a given this band is pretty involved in instrumental improvisation and might be doing a splendid job on; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Perfect Symmetry; Brand: Fates Warning; Review: Fates Warning's Perfect Symmetry is a truly historic and genre-defining recording in progressive metal. Up until the late 80's, a term as "progressive metal" didn't even exist. It could be easily argued that Perfect Symmetry and Voivod's Nothingface, both released in 1989, are the first albums that marked the birth of really heavy, crushing metal elements blended with progressive music. This is different from any Rush, King Crimson or Yes inspired band. This is METAL with serious progressive overtones. Many people who listen to Perfect Symmetry today may find it a tad flat and uninspiring, but I challenge those people to go back to the year 1989 and find equally genre-busting, original, creative, forward-going releases. From a historical context, Perfect Symmetry ranks right on top of the list as one of the most influential albums ever. This is drum god Mark Zonder's debut with the band too. Listening to Zonder's drumming is a true delight. I don't think I've been amazed of this magnitude by anyone else's drumming; Mark Zonder gives Fates Warning a new edge, makes them a better, more challenging act with tons of chops and transparency. Whilst this is merely his first album with the band, he works the drums with blistering power and accuracy, adding various odd-metered rhythms. Founding member Jim Matheos and Frank Aresti are still deeply rooted in a metal territory but their songwriting has moved towards a more cohesive style. Frank Aresti continues to integrate his impeccable skill into the songs as Matheos experiments with melody and harmony. Vocalist Ray Alder sings in a more disciplined manner; rather than screaming every verse, he's creating gripping melodies and delivering haunting lyrics. He's not as effective in the music as he's on the band's 90's albums, but he's certainly getting there. DiBiase on bass is less prominent than, say Awaken the Guardian, but then he is more of a straightforward bass guy whose style would better fit the John Arch-era. Still, he's there 100% with subtle rhythms and bass grooves. Guesting on the album is ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore. Many think that Moore only played on Fates Warning's 1997 and 2000 releases, which is true to a certain extent. Kevin was a key member on A Pleasant Shade of Gray and Disconnected as he played practically on every song, but his real debut with Fates Warning is Perfect Symmetry, the track "At Fate's Hands". This is one of the longest songs on the album beginning with a forlorn violin piece alongside Moore's distinctive piano melody. As Zonder plays with his cymbals, Kevin creates a creepy atmosphere which serves as a backdrop to the lengthy instrumental passage interwoven by Matheos and Aresti's celestial lead guitar melodies. The songs are pretty nicely evened out. There are compact metal songs such as "The Arena" and "A World Apart". Mainly composed by Frank Aresti, the latter begins with dark and brooding acoustic guitars (which Aresti is great playing at) and introduces an unexpected odd-time polyrhythm by Mark Zonder before it delves into a dexterous and melodic guitar solo with lots; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Parallels; Brand: Fates Warning; Review: 1991's Parallels is, in my opinion, a great place to start with Fates Warning, especially if you've never heard them before. As much as I love the John Arch-era of the band, I feel Parallels marks their perfect transition from their old school roots to their more atmospheric experimental prog phase. This album lies somewhere in between with guitarist Jim Matheos focusing his attention and power on more concise songs, developed melodies and mapped out compositions. Unlike the band's earlier material, all songs are entirely written by Matheos; and therefore more defined and purposeful. Vocalist Ray Alder is more established and sings with more confidence. He is no longer trying to please the older Arch-era fans, but going for his own musical expression. Another new member, Mark Zonder, adds his unique drumming skills with a lot more subtlety, compared to Perfect Symmetry, his debut with the band. Second guitarist Frank Aresti and bassist John DiBiase are still present, but their impact is less forceful than before, as they take a back seat when it comes to the songwriting. Parallels also marks the band's marriage with successful producer Terry Brown, formerly of Rush fame. Finally a Fates Warning album sounds complete in every aspect, including production. The mix is sparse and crisp giving the songs a fresh feel. Jim Matheos' guitar arrangements have grown more complex and Ray Alder's vocals are more upfront. No wonder why Fates Warning would have Terry Brown do their upcoming releases as well. He certainly does a flawless job. The songwriting is very melodic, but not in a syrupy sense. Not for second is the melodic approach sacrificed, yet there are still heavy riffs with metallic drive and fluctuating time signatures emphasized by Mark Zonder's odd metered drumming and delightful polyrhytmics. Jim Matheos and Frank Aresti quite possibly play my favourite guitar solo on the opener, "Leave the Past Behind". It's a melodic solo that builds slowly upon dark acoustic guitars and transforms into a melodic metal assault with fluid arpeggios. DiBiase's bass is tightly woven with Zonder's progressive drumming and forms the backbone of the music. The second track, "Life in Still Water", is a headturner with its killer opening riff and Mark Zonder's fantastic drumming. Zonder adds tasteful fills in odd times whilst Ray Alder graces the song with strong vocal melodies. Dream Theater's James Labrie also appears here as a guest, and sings verses in a contrasting tone and phrasing. Parallels was Fates Warning's most 'commercial' sounding disc which, at first, turned some die-hards off, but all these so-called mainstream tunes easily stood the test of time. I saw Fates Warning live last week and it was a pleasure to see them playing songs like "Eye to Eye" and "Point of View". Both songs are characterized by ear-catching melodies and Ray Alder's catchy singing. However, they are far from commerical hit attempts as the latter features a duelling guitar solo from Matheos and Aresti, which could easily wipe the floor with any other 'commercial' hit from 1991 or whatever year. "We Only Say Goodbye" is; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Faces; Brand: Chris Caffery; Review: Savatage has been on hold for years; producer Paul O'Neill is concentrating on TSO, Jon Oliva is doing his solo project, and so, not surprisingly, guitarist Chris Caffery has also released his first solo album recently. The album will definitely interest old-school Savatage fans who want to hear tons of guitar solos, heavy and aggressive vocals, and less symphonic/progressive arrangements. Chris Caffery's Faces will, no doubt, deliver if that's what you're looking for. However, I beg to differ from the previous reviewers who deem this disc as perfect and flawless. Well, far from it, Faces and especially the bonus disc, God Damn War, do have their downsides, which I'll address in the following paragraphs of this review. But first the positive aspects... Faces contains sixteen tracks and over 76 minutes of music. It was decided that this record would contain music that would represent different facets (or "FACES") of Caffery's music. Overall, the album is raw, heavy and agressive throughout. It refuses to slow down for even two subsequent tracks, but continues to rock hard delivering in-your-face type of vintage Savatage. After giving this disc its first set of spins, you'll find yourself thinking, "Is this Caff or Jon Oliva on vocals?". It's certainly a great surprise that Caff can actually sing this good, but after listening to the album for a couple of months, different sort of questions start to pop up: "Well, Caff can sing for sure, but doesn't his voice lack character in the way it sounds too Oliva-ish, even for the biggest Oliva fans?". I'd be more interested in hearing a more personal vocal statement from Caffery rather than him trying way too hard to emulate Jon's UNIQUE vocal stylings. However, knowing it's going to please pretty much everyone out there, I digress. Chris Caffery handles pretty much every aspect of this album, including all guitars, lyrics, vocals, etc. However, the fact that he also tried to have a finger in the production process unfortunately detracts from the vocals. Try listening to several albums from different genres on your stereo, and then pop Faces in, everything will sound great except the vocals. They've been obviously muffled during the mastering process. Caff thinks it's a good production for a debut release, but I know better than that. This record was meant to be as perfect as possible, since day one. However, once the CD came out and people started questioning the validity of the vocal production, Caff became rather defensive. No worries though, the album sounds absolutely great if you hear it with good headphones. All the other instruments sound great. Caff plays acoustic guitars, rhythm and lead. Savatage drummer Jeff Plate supports him on drums and Dave Z is on bass. There are few keys present here, but it's not completely devoid of keyboard and piano work. Paul Morris plays them in a very fitting manner. I hear a good dose of Doctor Butcher on this album. Not just in the vocals, but also the music. Caffery doesn't abandon his Savatage roots completely either. You'll hear interesting symphonic; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: World Through My Eyes; Brand: RPWL; Review: World Through My Eyes is the first and only disc I own from German progressive rock band, RPWL. Strange as it may seem, I never thought a band with a name like that would be making such sophisticated, cerebral music. I only decided to give them a listen when they signed to InsideOut releasing their debut with them, and fourth album in total. The band comes from Germany and consists of Yogi Lang on vocals and keyboards, Karlheinz Wallner on guitars, Stephan Ebner on bass and Manfred Muller on drums. Former Genesis singer, Ray Wilson, appropriately described as "one of the finest voices in rock music" by InsideOut, also appears as a guest singer on one track. A little research online about RPWL revealed that frontman Yogi Lang was formerly in a Pink Floyd tribute band, and the earlier releases of RPWL were also heavily Floyd-inspired. Most reviews I read about this disc mentioned that they've finally started to grow away from that and develop a more personal style. As much as that may be true, it is still not too difficult to trace the band's profound love for Floyd, not so much in the shorter songs, but in the relatively lengthier pieces that are definitely centred around a Gilmour-ish musical understanding. Take the fifth track, "3 Lights", as an example. It's got an epic edge, very Gilmour-like guitar solos where each note makes sure it touches you, and a nice psychedelic overall vibe created by lush synth work. "Sea Nature" and the title track aren't too different either. The latter at over 10 minutes borrows various Middle Eastern melodies and melts them into a bluesy and progressive soundscape. There's a lengthy instrumental section in the middle and it's so beautiful you don't even want it to end. Near the end of the song, you'll hear some modern electronic keyboard patches that sharply contrast the previously introduced Middle Eastern elements. Once you concentrate on Lang's lyrics, you will also discover that this album focuses heavily on the lyrics, discussing and criticising mankind's current materialistic way of life. Without doubt, this is an album with a strong message and spiritual lyrics about the shortcomings of humanity "through his eyes". The difference between West and East is also nicely portrayed on the album cover; on the front, you'll see the band members in the middle of colourful flowers on a field wandering happily, being one with nature; while, upon turning the back of the CD sleeve, you'll see a picture of modern and high buildings built by the side of an artificial lake with their reflection shining on it. At first, I found the artwork rather bland, but after paying attention to the lyrics, they seemed to make great sense. That said, the music on this disc is no where near what you'd consider "heavy"; it's very vocal-oriented and easy listening. "Roses", sung by Ray Wilson, is an excellent interpretation about the individual's loneliness. Wilson gives the song its needed life and expression, delivering Lang's lyrics emotionally. The album picks up in tempo, displaying; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In Absentia; Brand: Porcupine Tree; Review: This review is being written after hundreds of spins, and yet I'm still not sure I can do this brilliant album justice describing it. There are so many details, nuances and little secrets hidden on this disc that I'd feel rather guilty if I fail to mention them in my review; then again, I don't think it's possible to cover all its depths in a single review. This really is one of those discs you need to buy, give time, study its lyrics, pay attention to the excellent production, clever songwriting and magnificent musicianship. Some Opeth fans think that ever since Steven Wilson has been producing Opeth albums they sound too much like Porcupine Tree in some aspects, especially recording techniques and stereo mixing-wise. Well, I'd like to point out that Wilson's collaboration with Opeth has certainly worked both ways; Steven Wilson has definitely absorbed some of their elements and seamlessly injected them in his own music with Porcupine Tree. This is, as many will agree, the heaviest Porcupine Tree album, and it shows right from the first track. "Blackest Eyes" perhaps contains the heaviest guitar riff Steven Wilson has ever played; it kicks in after the moody bass line a bit like a gigantic rock piece. The heavy approach is further developed on other tracks as well; on the longest song, "Gravity Eyelids", which begins really slowly with minimalist songwriting and tribal rhythms, there is a sudden shift of mood as Wilson plays this shuddering guitar riff (in the vein of Opeth) over Barbieri's experimental keyboard arrangement. It's the kind of riff you might hear on a Tool album, except that I'm not a Tool fan, but it works incredibly well here. Buy the album to hear this riff. Steven Wilson's partner in Blackfield, Aviv Geffen, appears on two tracks, one of them being the highly acclaimed number, "The Sound of Muzak". This is one of those songs that I could identify with right away, because of its challenging bass line and despairingly intense shifts of vocal melodies. Moreover, this tune is about the current state of the music industry and its lyrics are terribly ironic, which recall Devin Townsend's "Earth Day" to me. John Wesley, who has toured extensively with Marillion in his career, also graces this album with additional guitars and vocals, and it's in your best interest to give his music a listen. The band's affinity to Pink Floyd is still evident on some other songs such as "Lips of Ashes" and "Prodigal". They are both outstanding works of songwriting, musicianship and vocals. There are also two instrumental pieces here. Actually ".3" isn't entirely 'instrumental' as Wilson utters a few words, but other than that, it has no vocals. It sounds like this huge orchestra performing psychedelic prog; whilst, "Wedding Nails" is the band's testimony to creativity. New drummer Gavin Harrison rules this track as the song delves into stylistic changes, maintaining its moody and heavy edge throughout. I am utterly amazed at the band's musical performance; every prog band needs to listen to this track to understand; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Final Experiment; Brand: Ayreon; Review: The Final Experiment is Arjen Lucassen's debut release with his unique project, Ayreon, and this special edition is the reissue of a once-terribly overlooked first album. Despite the relatively unknown musicians on it, this record was by far my favourite Ayreon release. With each passing year, Arjen continued to put out great albums with some of the most important figures in rock and metal, but to me, The Final Experiment was unmatchable. However, in 2004, when Arjen released his latest album, The Human Equation, this masterpiece was surpassed, but still remains an all-time favourite, heads and shoulders above most other prog releases. The sound quality and remixed parts on this reissue sound a lot better. Not that there's anything wrong with the original release, but on this CD, the dynamics are stronger and livelier. Peter Vink's bass and Ernst van Ee's drums are stunning, thanks to the crisp and sparse mix. The vocals are placed carefully over delicate song arrangements, allowing each instrument to come through. The Final Experiment, as unusual as it was in 1995, is a concept album, which, in my opinion, must have been the reason why all the record labels turned Arjen down when he was looking for an outlet to release his music. In the booklet, Arjen has ironically printed the emails he got from the labels and record executives who refused to release this disc, claiming there was no market for this kind of music. Some of those people must be really ashamed now. Anyway, this is a concept record, about a single character named "Ayreon", and the whole story evolves around him (sort of like The Who's Tommy). The year is 2084 (exactly 100 years after George Orwell's 1984) and scientists have developed this program in order to save the world from its downfall. They manage to send signals back in time, which are received by a blind medieval minstrel, who has these visions from the future and takes on a mission to save mankind from its tragic fate. Folk elements are successfully used to portray the medieval times, whilst occasional electronics represent the future. Needless to say, there is a very clever storyline, with a strong lyrical message to deliver, and on top of all, fantastic musicianship, especially for a debut album. The album is very diverse musically. At over 70 minutes, epic rock of bands like Queen and Rainbow, atmospheric sounds of Pink Floyd, folk stuff of Led Zeppelin, vocal harmonies of the Beatles, 70's prog of ELP and Yes are all blended in Arjen Lucassen's creative songwriting. In a way, Arjen is paying tribute to his heroes, while at the same time attempting to create something unique. The album starts with a spoken voice setting the tone of the concept, quickly giving way to an acoustic guitar-led progressive track featuring a magnificent keyboard solo that is right on the same musical path with ELP. More overlapping keyboard solos in the vein of Rick Wakeman are displayed on the following track, "Eyes of Time". Peter Vink's bass tone is simply astounding here --; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alien; Brand: Strapping Young Lad; Review: Alien is Strapping Young Lad's fourth studio album (excluding their live disc). It is a big improvement over their previous self-titled release. While I thought SYL was a good disc in its own way, I felt it sounded a bit dry production-wise, and certainly left me a tad disappointed after the band's untouchable masterpiece, City. Alien certainly finds the band going back to their more chaotic phase, with its dense mix and thick wall of sound built around the whole record. Now it doesn't redefine the limits of musical extremity as City once did, but it definitely proves to be a rock solid release nevertheless. Alien is the first SYL album written as a cohesive unit and by far their most diverse disc to date. This time, it's not just Devin Townsend handling every aspect of the songwriting and production, but overall, the album still feels like some of the material on his solo albums (especially Infinity and Terria). On the other hand, it is obvious that the other members have contributed to the songs tremendously. They certainly threw ideas at Devin which he morphed into interesting soundscapes. The melodic sides on the songs on Alien sound more melodic, whilst the chaotic sides are more chaotic and certainly faster. There are ultra-fast and brutal tracks like "Skeksis" and "Shitstorm", yet Devin Townsend's excellent harmonies are easily noticeable. The guitar work on the latter is quite challenging technically, but it doesn't sacrifice melody for even a second. The vocal melodies on these songs could easily rival Devin's stuff on Infinity. Both Devin and Jed Simon play fluid guitar runs loaded with technical riffs that crash with Gene Hoglan's utterly insane blast beats. As usual, the lyrics are characterized by rage (the feeling Devin successfully portrayed on Ayreon's The Human Equation) and an irresistible sense of hatred. Alien isn't about little green men or abduction; it deals with the individual's alienation and feeling lonely in society. Devin mostly screams the lyrics in his unique way of growling, shrieking as well as regular singing. Aside from the tracks dominated by hyper-fast blast beats, spiralling riffs and insane vocals, there are also more laid-back tunes to diversify the record. Take the melodic "Shine" as an example, its thrashy riffing with Devin's 'normal' voice is awesome as is the thick sound on "Love?" with clean and scream vocals mixed. It feels like bassist Byron Stroud (Fear Factory) plays an integral role in this song. Guitarist Jed Simon-penned "We Ride" is the shortest track, yet one of the finest on the album. Super technical guitar runs meet throbbing bass and thundering drums. "Possession" is SYL's humourous side, whilst "Two Weeks" is the album's biggest surprise. It begins with nice acoustic guitars and builds upon a vague Floydian atmosphere reminiscent of the stuff on Terria. "Thalamus" has more acoustic guitars, but this song does pick up somewhere in the middle. It never gets too heavy or too slow, and for some reason, is another favourite of mine. As much as I love the sheer power and chaos presented on; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Night To Remember; Brand: Evergrey; Review: Evergrey have finally released their long-awaited double live album recorded in Gothenburg, Sweden last year. A Night to Remember is a splendid live release covering songs from the band's all five studio albums. Live albums are usually difficult to pull off; because some fans want to hear the songs rendered close to their original versions, while some others look for novelties. In Evergrey's case, it seems this won't be a problem, since Tom Englund and the band him behind easily manage to keep the unique Evergrey sound intact through the whole concert, still adding touches of new ideas. The sound quality is simply excellent. Tom Englund and Henrik Danhage's guitar sound is thick and richly nuanced. They trade off solos like they do on their studio releases and their playing ranges from emotionally charging solos to crushing metal riffage depending on the songs. Englund's voice is absolutely amazing; he delivers each and every piece exactly the same way he does on the albums conveying emotions of fear, confusion and aggression. It could be that there are some overdubs on this album, but even if that's the case, they are no where close to being derivative. New drummer Jonas Ekdahl had got me confused for a moment with his competent yet rather straightforward drumming on the last Evergrey album, The Inner Circle. However, the songs on A Night to Remember find Ekdahl kicking ass, doing the previous songs justice and playing them exactly the way they should be played. Even his tone fits with the rest of the instruments seamlessly -- check out his rhythm workout on "As I Lie Here Bleeding" and you'll see what I mean. The first disc is a bit more varied as it contains songs from all albums. My favourites would be the In Search of Truth numbers as they're more progressive and textured; "Mislead" is one of the longest tracks here and Rikard Zander plays a blindingly beautiful keyboard solo. He also shines on "Mark of the Triangle", another favourite song. "Rulers of the Mind", however, along with the final track is the ultimate climax of this 112-minute live album. The Gothenburg Symphonic Orchestra helps Evergrey create their huge sound, especially on The Inner Circle tracks. Three female vocalists, including Englund's wife, also support the band, adding impressive vocal melodies. Englund and his wife duet on "For Every Tear That Falls", a song from the band's underrated debut disc. The female vocalists are also amazing on "End of Your Days" and "More Than Ever". The second disc starts off with "When the Walls Go Down", a song I'd never think they'd do live, since it's basically an instrumental track with punctuated voice-over parts. If there's anything that seems slightly out of place here, it's this tune. The band quickly goes back to its thunderous heaviness though. "Solitude Within" and "Nosferatu" from the band's second release both open up with a killer main riff supported by powerful bass, chaotic drumming and imposing keyboard lines. Even the violin on the former track is present in the music to stay; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Operation: Mindcrime; Brand: Queensrche; Review: Operation: Mindcrime is the album by which Queensryche is known throughout the world; people who know little or nothing about the band have at least heard of them because of this record. It is perhaps the most revolutionary prog metal album because of its compelling storyline and masterfully-crafted musicianship. While Fates Warning already started to pave the way for their followers with Awaken the Guardian in 1986, it was mainly Queensryche that managed to break on a bigger scale reaching the masses. This album set the standards for most of the 90's bands; anyone who listens to Heavy Metal holds it very high respecting every second of it. Where to begin? I know it's daft trying to explain the storyline of a deeply moving concept 16 years after its inception, especially if only few of the question marks have been erased since 1988. Basically, Operation: Mindcrime is an epic tale of revolution and intrigue, psychological manipulation, corruption of politicians, media, drugs, murder and suicide. It envelopes a broad range of subject matters dealing with them from individuals' point of view, but on a larger scope, it also offers sociopolitical commentary on the previously mentioned themes. Geoff Tate came up with this incredibly profound concept when he was living in Montreal after the Rage for Order tour. He mentioned he was flooded with an abundance of lyrical ideas while sitting in the back of a Catholic Church with a choir singing in full voice around flickering candles lightening the gloomy atmosphere of the place. The foundations of the storyline came to him in a flash and he mentioned writing most of the story within a span of twenty minutes. He broadened his scope by coupling the interesting tale with different personalities he'd met on his travels. One of these characters became Doctor X, a man with cold, calculating and vicious personality whose alleged involvement with a terrorist organization was the inspiration for this record. Of course it's not just about the music. When Tate presented his idea of a concept piece to the band, the only member who embraced the offer was his principal writing partner Chris DeGarmo. Had it not been for DeGarmo's bold move and creative input this disc would have never been what it is. Besides Geoff Tate's cerebral lyrical work and amazing vocal delivery, it is Chris DeGarmo's esoteric songwriting what makes O:M a timeless masterpiece. While he isn't credited as a composer in tracks such as "Speak" and "Revolution Calling", I would bet my life that those tracks were all given their final touch by DeGarmo and noted producer Nick Collins of Rush fame. The album shines from start to finish peaking particularly with the lyrics of "Revolution Calling" introducing the storyline and "Operation: Mindcrime" delivering the message of the entire record successfully. "The Mission" being one of the many 100% Chris DeGarmo creations sees Geoff Tate performing a rock solid vocal performance backed up by powerful melodies. "Spreading the Disease" once again displays Geoff Tate's amazing talents as a lyricist while the 10-minute epic "Suite Sister Mary"; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Falling Into Infinity; Brand: Dream Theater; Review: I don't know why Falling into Infinity gets so much flak from its own fanbase. People consider it Dream Theater's so-called attempt at breaking in the mainstream, which I still refuse to accept, since the music that forms FII is still very solid from start to finish. That said, the album does have an overall softer feel to it, but it's nothing like a sell-out release you'd think of. Also, I don't think so many people would hate it if Portnoy hadn't spoken his mind about this record not being one of his favourites. I guess the main problem stems from the fact that FII was Dream Theater's first album without Kevin Moore on keyboards, and secondly, not right up to par with I&W and Awake. Therefore, the Kevin Moore-era fans never really embraced DT's new-found musical direction, whose aim was to create something new rather than copy-catting the Moore period. FII differs from its predecessors in several aspects. Firstly, there is Kevin Shirley helping the band out with the production. Secondly the songs on FII, unlike the previous releases, were recorded one at a time. This means, as opposed to every member coming in the studio and laying down his parts for the entire album and then being done, everyone had to come in and do the recording of a single song only. The end result was that each song had its own traits, certainly allowing the change of mood of each member to shine through. Perhaps this is one of the factos why FII is still one of DT's most diverse releases -- at least sonically. There is the typical Dream Theater song, "New Millennium", just with a more modern production, that features great bass playing from Myung and a somewhat more emphasized keyboard approach. Then there is the more pop-structured "You Not Me", which is perhaps what angered so many fans, but I like it. I think the catchy chorus serves its purpose quite well and mashes nicely with the funky guitar riff. This album has a very unique tone to it if you can get into it. My immediate favourites off of FII are the Pink Floyd-ish "Peruvian Skies" inspired by an article John Petrucci read about an abused girl in Peru, hence the title. After the Floydian influence wears off, the song builds up into a very melodic and emotionally charged guitar solo that sends shivers down my spine. Derek's keyboard solo follows immediately, only less melodic and more straightforward. "Lines in the Sand" and the last track, "Trial of Tears", span over 25 minutes when put together, and are the album's most progressive pieces. Doug Pinnick of King's X also sings some back-ups on "Lines in the Sand" which is a very dense song. It is an attack on organized religion and explores feelings of isolation once the person realizes the religious zealots' hypocrisy. Mike Portnoy keeps a fantastic groove to this song, before giving way to Petrucci's amazing guitar solo. Anyone who dislikes John Petrucci's playing should hear this wonderfully amazing guitar run before passing; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black Halo; Brand: Kamelot; Review: Kamelot's 2003 release Epica was a powerful concept piece inspired by Goethe's Faust. It dealt with the battles between good and evil, and made a great addition to the band's catalog. The Black Halo is their seventh studio release; and from a lyrical standpoint, it is a logical continuation of Faust, but at the same time, it combines the themes of the story with the band's own experiences and political views, some of which touch extensively on the war in Iraq among other cultural and religious events. As this album also takes its inspiration from Faust, there are some references to Epica, musically speaking. Every once in a while, a melody line will make its way into the mix, taking you back to the band's previous album, but it's all just for a brief moment. The Black Halo, as its cover art and Mattias Noren's beautiful work on the booklet pages suggest, is quite possibly the darkest and toughest album Kamelot have ever done. Although the classic Kamelot sound is still present, The Black Halo differs from the band's previous releases in some significant ways. "March of Mephisto" puts the band Kamelot, Shagrath of Dimmu Borgir and Jens Johansson (Stratovarius) in the same context, embodying the dark nature of the album, characterized by sinister atmospheres and emphasis on a dynamic guitar sound. Johansson plays a soul-torturing keyboard solo that is the diametric opposite of what we've come to expect from him. Shagrath also brings depth to the music, singing semi-growled lyrics to provide a striking contrast to Roy Khan's low vocals. I was utterly amazed when I heard this track that I was anxious to hear the rest of the song for fear that they might have gone back to their more forthright power metal style. Thank god I was quite pleased to discover that they'd chosen to retain the dark elements in their music for the whole album, therefore surprising me and many other fans. Roy Khan's singing on this disc recalls his work with Conception; he mostly sings in a low-key, rarely attempting at impressing the listener with his already world-famous high screams. His low vocals allow him to impress us with his incredibly wide range. He is supported by various singers through the album; Simone Simons from Epica does an angelic vocal performance on "The Haunting" which is a mid-tempo track that offers layers of depth and beauty. Agile keyboard melodies are replaced by a charging guitar solo from Thomas Youngblood, whose restrained yet incredibly articulate playing is one of the main motives of this disc. Youngblood never overplays; he just gives the songs what they need, be it speed, melody or power. Together with Glenn Barry's bass, Youngblood serves us the classic Kamelot power metal anthems in the forms of "When the Lights are Down", "Soul Society", "Nothing Ever Dies" or the title track. Thanks to Sascha Paeth's brilliant production job, Youngblood's guitar sound has more crunch than ever, and Barry's bass is subtle on the whole disc, which isn't something too common in today's power metal albums.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One; Brand: Neal Morse; Review: It must have been a challenging task for Neal Morse to follow up his previous album Testimony, which not only was his comeback as a solo artist but also a fantastic album in many ways. One, his new output, is another successful release, differing from its predecessor slightly. It is less autobiographical and more progressive. On the other hand, the concept of the album has still heavy religious overtones - they're just less in-your-face and a bit more general. Testimony was a very personal disc for Morse, as its lyrics were directly inspired by his own life. One sees him exploring religious themes on a larger scope. Some people might be turned off by the lyrics on this album; but personally, I'm not the least bit annoyed. The music, vocal melodies, and songwriting are too good to ignore the album just because of its lyrical message. That said, if you're familiar with Morse's back catalog, all the parts on One are things you may have already heard. There isn't anything ground-breaking or overtly original here; but the trademark Neal Morse sound is still all over the place. It's just that, listening to this album, you will find yourself going back to various records in Morse's discography, mostly the first two Spock's Beard discs, some of the proggy stuff of Transatlantic, and the orchestral side of Testimony. Needless to say, Morse still remains as unrivaled as ever with his love for Beatles melodies in the vocals and Gentle Giant influence in his songwriting. The inclusion of Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy on drums shows as well - not only does Portnoy play the drums amazingly, but he must have had a finger in the song arrangements this time as well. I definitely get a more subtle Transatlantic vibe on this disc, which makes it more proggy than Testimony. There are parts written with the intention of giving Portnoy the opportunity to shine as a brilliant drummer. Note the four-minute instrumental beginning of "The Creation" where Portnoy places intricate rhythms between the guitar and bass sound. He is also incredibly rocking during the breakdown of "Author of Confusion", quite possibly the heaviest song Neal Morse has ever written. This, too, has a long drawn-out instrumenal beginning before it delves into its multi-layered chorus. Randy George plays full, fat and round bass lines through the entire song and Randy George handles the guitar work successfully. I love all his solos on this disc - he should work with Morse forever! Phil Keaggy guests on the album offering electric and acoustic guitar solos and some vocals as well. His electric solo on "The Creation" is fantastic; but this 18-minute epic is amazing from start to finish anyway. It's got ethereal keys, a solid rhythm section, killer guitar runs, and top of it all, Morse's unique vocal harmonies. The last couple of minutes on the song are the best - the part where Morse comes back into the music after a somewhat improvised middle section is simply mesmerizing. I like this song a little better than the other; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chapter V-Unbent Unbowed Unbroken; Brand: Hammerfall; Review: I've long come to understand that originality has never been Hammerfall's strong side. To this day, their first album, Glory to the Brave, and perhaps their second one, Legacy of Kings, are the only ones I consider essential listenings, and only for power metal fans that is. Nothing wrong with not being original or groundbreaking, I love many bands that repeat themselves, but with Hammerfall, I just can't get over the 'cheese' factor. That said, Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken (kinda cheesy title, even by Hammerfall standards, no?) is an okay album, and that's saying a lot. The music is exactly like what you'd expect to hear from them. Lots of melodic guitar lines with fast, double drum bass, high pitched vocals (sometimes too high though) and the typical victorious lyrics to round things up. As the band's previous studio release, Crimson Thunder, this one was also produced by Charlie Bauerfeind (Blind Guardian) and has a similar overall vibe. One exception is that the guitar work tends to go back to their Glory to the Brave minus the speed; that's a shame because it's the speed on Glory what made that disc so powerful compared to their other releases. Most of the songs are quite midtempo and rarely see the 5 minute mark. Vocalist Joacim Cans proved to me that he can make a killer singer with his solo disc and I still stand by the opinion that his solo album is a better effort than all Hammerfall discs combined. However, on this album, Cans tends to sing higher than his range allows and the outcome isn't all that impressive. The vocals in the beginning of "Fury of the Wild", especially in the verses, sung over childishly weak riffs is abysmal. I also can't stand some of the horrid backup vocals on tunes like "Hammer of Justice" and "Born to Rule", which are otherwise quite solid compositions. I especially like these pieces cause Cans delivers the lyrics in a relatively more aggressive manner, rather than the happy-go generic Euro power tunes. As always, there is the mandatory ballad "Never, Ever" that, though good, doesn't do much for me. Hammerfall ballads have never appealed to me for some reason, but I find the chorus of this song particularly cheesy. The melancholy continues on the little instrumental piece "Imperial", which is just acoustic guitars that go slightly over two minutes. The highlight of the album is the opening track "Secrets"; it's one of the fastest and most energetic tracks with tasty lead guitar work and memorable melodies. This album would have been more to my liking if they'd continued to write such songs that focus on heavy riffs, outstanding vocals, gripping choruses and somewhat more interesting drumming. I don't understand why they didn't make more use of Anders Johansson's abilities, since he has already proven everyone what a monster player he is. We still get to hear a little drum fury on "The Templar Flame", but it's not enough. I also highly anticipated the 12-minute 'epic', "Knights of the 21st Century", because of Venom; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harnessing Ruin; Brand: Immolation; Review: It is amazing how much growth New York death metal band Immolation shows from release to release, never abandoning their roots. Although each album from them is amazing in its own way, I tend to lean towards their more recent stuff (Close to a World onwards). I think their previous disc, Unholy Cult, set a milestone in their career, emphasising layers of atmosphere to complement their already technically astounding music. Their new album, Harnessing Ruin, is an amalgamation of the band's previous efforts, only with bigger desolate atmosphere and darker songwriting. The songs are still as chaotic as ever focusing on killer guitar work that pulls at the heart strings. If you've never heard Immolation before, start right here. You'll be amazed at both guitarists' excellent command of melody. Not a single note is played for the sake of impressing anyone; everything is kept within the context of the song. Robert Vigna and Bill Taylor throw the traditional death metal riffing out the window, laying down evil acoustic guitars in the intro of "Dead to Me", unorthodox Egyptian scales on "Challenge the Storm", or simply gripping guitar solos that shred the listener to pieces on tunes such as the title track, "My Own Enemy" or "Crown the Liar". The riffing on this disc is mindblowing throughout; it's mostly based around eerie minor chords, dissonant guitar attacks and evil song structures. Add new drummer Steve Shalaty to the fold; he sounds a tad different the first couple of listens, but each additional spin cements the fact that he is a monster player. His kick drums rule supreme, his polyrhythms are so well-crafted that thousands of others could only dream of, and on top of all, he plays with wonderful restraint, leaving plenty of playing space for vocalist Ross Dolan's prominent bass. Ross Dolan's brutal death growls are also more atmospheric as well as easier to follow without the booklet in your hands. The lyrics continue to evolve around anti-religion themes. Producer Paul Orofino once again creates a grim wallsound tapestry we've all come to expect from him. The mix is solid as a rock and its intentional murkiness in spots obscures melody, and only repeated listens reveal the inner depths of this release. Don't write it off if doesn't click with you right away; let the music settle in your brain and discover all the elements seamlessly integrated in their sound. This is so far one of the best death metal releases of 2005. (This review is based on the regular issue of the album. I do not own the version with the bonus disc, nor have I heard the material on it.); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Blueprint Dives; Brand: Extol; Review: Extol's previous two releases, Undeceived and especially Synergy, were amazing works of technical prog metal with death, black and thrash influences. They played extreme music with lots of harsh and clean vocals, quirky leads, phenomenal drumming, and used plenty of complex time signatures. The Blueprint Dives differs from the band's predecessors quite a bit, and rightly so. Extol's former guitarists Christer Espevoll and Ole Burud, left the band and were replaced by the Ganglion duo, Tor Magne Glidje and Ole Halvard Sveen. This has caused a noticeable change in the band's sound; the music is relatively less complex, the songs are shorter, the guitars take a back seat providing rhythms rather than choppy riffs, and the bass comes forward stealing the show. However, the biggest difference is in Peter Espevoll's singing. More than half of this 53-minute disc features clean vocals. This time around the harsh, brutal screams are less prominent, but still make themselves heard on the heavier songs such as "Soul Deprived" with thunderous rhythm guitars, killer drumming and a fantastic bass solo; "In Reversal" where the guitars scream like sirens over Floydian atmospheres and obscure piano melodies buried deep down in the mix; or "The Things I Found" which is perhaps the most technical song reminiscent of the earlier albums - great guitar work with atonal sweeping and technical leads make this one of the heaviest songs on the album. The slower songs tend to bring forth the vocal melodies as on "Pearl", the first single off of this disc (there's also a video of this song on the CD). Peter Espevoll delivers a hauntingly emotional track with lush piano and eerie cymbal work. This one is followed by "From the Everyday Mountain Top", a song defined by numerous breakdowns, acoustic guitars, a powerful guitar theme and ever-present clean-harsh vocals. Drummer David Husvik and bassist John Robert Mjaland give us an ethereal jazzy piano and bass concerto on "Another Adam's Escape", which is one of the most unique songs Extol have ever penned. My favourite song, however, is the closing track "The Death Sedative". It's dark, it's grim, it's evil. The vocal style and cluttered atmosphere of this song could instantly be associated with Opeth during their Dan Swano-produced first two albums mixed with thick, unbreakable walls of sound on Devin Townsend's solo material. I've yet to read other reviews that praise this song (most people I've talked to are more fond of melodically convincing songs like "Gloria" and "Pearl" so far), but this one is easily the highlight for me. There is also a nice bonus song on the album titled "Riding for a Fall". It doesn't really sound too different than the other song here, so it's much welcome. Never got into Extol because of their extreme musicality on their older releases? How about giving this one a listen? It may change your mind.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ASYLUM OF THE HUMAN; Brand: Hell Within; Review: Hell Within is a very interesting metalcore band from Boston. They signed to German label Lifeforce Records who have, without doubt, done an amazing job promoting them. I really hope they're going to achieve the success they're aiming, and given the powerful music presented on Asylum of the Human Predator, Hell Within is onto something here. I'm not really into this type of music, but I still like what I hear on this album. Hell Within reminds me of a cross between later periods of bands like Slayer, In Flames and Shadows Fall. There is also a certain Hatebreed influence to be heard on the more "modern" sounding tunes, such as "Redemption... is a Cold Body" and "Self-Inflected Silence", but I have to mention that Hell Within's vocalist easily blows the Hatebreed singer away. Matt McChesney reminds me of earlier Dark Tranquillity when he does his impressive brutal screams; he is also certainly akin to the singer from Shadows Fall, in the way he constantly changes from harsh to clean singing. "Godspeed to Your Deathbed" is perhaps the most powerful song on the record. It features neck-breaking riffs with hooks, extremely angry growls that sporadically give way to regular singing, and a nice guitar solo. You got it right -- Hell Within isn't your typical hardcore band; they play nifty guitar solos whose tone is highly melodic and smooth. Guitarists Isaias Martinez and Tony Zimmerman are a solid duo; they play thrashy rhythms as well as fluid guitar solos. The opening riff of "Bleeding Me Black" and the gripping melody of "Open Your Eyes to Open Wounds" are simply mesmerizing -- especially for a metalcore band. Special mention goes to drummer Brian Joyce who will leave you speechless when you hear the drum solo on "Soul Revulsion" or the fantastic kick-drums that pounder like a machine gun on "Merchants of the Blood Trade". Joe Martinez is always there to complement the rhythms with his highly accented double bass plodding along and keeping the songs groovy throughout. Hell Within is one of those bands that is going to draw the attention of metalcore fans, if they are interested in exploring music with more depth and better songwriting skills. I for one would never look back to the same ol' same ol' metalcore bands out there if more acts like Hell Within were around.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: ; Brand: Frameshift; Review: Multi-instrumentalist Henning Pauly's second Frameshift album An Absence of Empathy is a very strong successor to his debut disc which featured James Labrie on vocals. This time around, the vocal duties are handled by another amazing Canadian vocalist: the mighty Sebastian Bach! Needless to say, hearing Bach on a progressive metal album isn't a very common thing, so I was very excited to hear when Pauly and Bach had joined forces to create the second Frameshift album. Henning Pauly, besides playing all instruments except the drums, has done pretty much all the songwriting with the exception of two tracks to which Bach made some lyrical changes. Pauly has also mixed, engineered and produced the album himself with some assistance from his friends Matt Cash and Adam Evers. The subject matter explored on An Absence of Empathy is extremely intriguing! As its cover art suggests, the album is dark and very heavy lyrically. Basically it's a deep study on different forms of violence, be it the story of a serial killer in "Just One More"; a mother crying for her raped daughter in "In An Empty Room"; a soldier shooting people without knowing if they're soldiers or innocents on "Push the Button"; or simply a school shooting by rebelling students on "Outcast". I am thoroughly impressed by the depth of the lyrics on this album - the metaphors, wordplays and twisted imagery created are stunning. Each song depicts a different situation - not just sick-minded people taking the lives of innocents, but also normal people committing murder as on "I Killed You", which is about a man killing his wife for her act of betrayal in a moment of rage. However, the most moving songs lyrically are the 'torture' songs, "This is Gonna Hurt" and "How Long Can I Resist". Whilst the former tells a sick torturing story in a dark room from the torturer's point of view, the latter is told from the protagonist's eyes. Sebastian Bach portrays a wide spectrum of moods singing each song and takes you into the psyche of all these different people. Musically the album is equally challenging. Although I've never heard Henning Pauly's solo album, out of all the Chain and Frameshift stuff, An Absence of Empathy is his most progressive creation to date. Also, it is slightly heavier than Unweaving the Rainbow. Though 74 minutes, the album is an incredibly quick listen. All songs flow into each other seamlessly, giving you no other option but hit play again after the last track. Pauly's songwriting skills are top notch. He gives each song character, style and passion. "Just One More", reminding me of Porcupine Tree's In Absentia due to its lyrical content, kicks in with a slightly electronic vibe that quickly transforms into a guitar-driven song with a fantastic chorus sung by Bach. "Miseducation" merges classic Hard'N Heavy grooves of bands like Skid Row with symphonic prog rock and has a modern "Youth Gone Wild"-like overall vibe. The album's centrepieces are the two 9-minute monster tracks "I Killed You" with its ever-present changes of tempo and; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Section X; Brand: Beyond Twilight; Review: After nearly four long years, Beyond Twilight has emerged with a new album. Their previous disc The Devil's Hall of Fame with Jorn Lande on vocals was a stunning record, so it caused quite some stress when it was announced that Lande had left and was replaced by a new singer: American vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter from the band Outworld. If you were a fan of Lande's vocals in Beyond Twilight, worry not, Carpenter is an absolutely perfect fit for the position. The tone of his voice and his phrasing are highly similar to Lande's, which is great. There are moments on the album, unless you look in the CD booklet, you wouldn't know it's not Jorn Lande singing. Carpenter does an excellent job; he sings passionately and will easily convince everyone that he is the perfect choice. Finn Zierler, the man behind Beyond Twilight, is still responsible for most of the songwriting on this disc, which is darker than ever, more progressive and more cinematic. Seemingly written locked in a dark attic, the dirty streets of London and near a cold lake, Section X is the continuation of Beyond Twilight's debut concept, and it kicks off with a very similar theme. There is also an informative and quite interesting storyline printed in the booklet. Even though I can't say I'm too impressed by the concept, neither was I by the one in the previous album. It's more Zierler's unique understanding of composition and creating thick, layered soundscapes that draw me to the sound and style of Beyond Twilight. Once again the production on this album is huge, thanks to Zierler's cooperation with Tommy Hansen during the mixing stages. This album is more of progressive tinged disc with sweeping arrangements and numerous emotional twists. Jacob Hansen's addition to the fold also serves this purpose, and his presence is easily noticeable. Give a close listen to the way the guitars slowly soar above Zierler's piano on "Sleeping Beauty" and how they fade into infinity as if the wind carries them away. This song also features guest vocalist Truls Haugen whose clean singing exchanges spots with Carpenter's more aggressive style. The big chorus filled with Latin lyrics is a reference to the first Beyond Twilight album, except that the female choir singing it is a lot more effective this time around. New vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter takes on many different roles through the album. From the most haunting melody lines pulled out of the depths of hell that permeat "The Path of Darkness", the gruff and enraged singing on "Shadow Self", the cold spoken passages on "The Dark Side", or even the more multi-octave hitting screams on the 9-minute closing title track, Carpenter makes this album as amazing as the highly acclaimed debut, and certainly proves to be a fantastic addition to prog metal singers. Once the debut Outworld disc sees the light of day, it will be a headturner, mark my words. There is a mindblowing instrumental track titled "Portrait F in Dark Waters", a classical intermezzo that starts out lush and laid-back,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Years in Waste; Brand: Omnium Gatherum; Review: Omnium Gatherum are a Finnish death metal band playing cold, melancholic music that is often marked by fierce guitar riffs, interesting drum work, effective melodies and a very interesting singer to say the least. Antti Filppu's vocals may take a little while to absorb. Both his regular clean singing and death grunts are significantly different - he mostly spurts out the lyrics in a half-screamed and half-growled style, yet it is still easy to discern the words because his vocals are neither too distorted nor as brutal as, say the Cannibal Corpse or Six Feet Under vocalists. Filppu's vocals mostly remind me of former Sentenced singer Taneli Jarva's style of delivery on the first The Black League album, Ichor. As a matter of fact, Years in Waste is also in the same vein, except that the music here is more on the technical and aggressive side. As with many other Finnish bands, Omnium Gatherum create a melancholic atmosphere despite their undeniable heaviness and raw approach to songwriting. The subtle employment of keyboards seems to add an extra layer that lends itself to plenty of comparisons that are hard to pinpoint. That said, Years in Waste is a very grim album, as both the artwork and song titles suggest, but it's completely devoid of gothic elements, which makes it very listenable. Then again, I don't really think they are a very melodic death metal band either, and certainly do not share anything common with bands like At The Gates or Katatonia as the label claims. Omnium Gatherum offer a harsher and more shadowy kind of metal occasionally mixed with sweeping guitar lines that spiral into punishing death metal riffs. The atmospheric vibe is also retained, as you will notice on "Black Seas Cry" which is the most The Black League tinged track with its acoustic guitars and constant tempo changes. "No Moon & No Queen" sees the band merging their technical aspect with agile melodies that easily make this song stand out. There are also interesting guitar solos and a very competent drum work that focuses on adding the final touch on the songs "Gravesilence" and "Auguries Gone". The album is slightly flawed though. I feel the drum sound really takes away from Jarmo Pikka's performance and the fact that they chose to open the album with one of the weakest tracks may turn some listeners off. Also, some of the riffs sound out of place, especially when the rhythm guitarist tends to follow the bass player (who is very integral on this disc) and merely plods along with him. There is plenty of crunch in the music, but they don't always develop into interesting melodies that stick to the mind, leaving you concentrating on the vocals, which I already said are an acquired taste. I personally like the singing, but can see many others being uninterested in Omnium Gatherum because of the vocals on Years in Waste. Certainly worth checking out though - there aren't too many bands like this around.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Section X; Brand: Beyond Twilight; Review: After nearly four long years, Beyond Twilight has emerged with a new album. Their previous disc The Devil's Hall of Fame with Jorn Lande on vocals was a stunning record, so it caused quite some stress when it was announced that Lande had left and was replaced by a new singer: American vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter from the band Outworld. If you were a fan of Lande's vocals in Beyond Twilight, worry not, Carpenter is an absolutely perfect fit for the position. The tone of his voice and his phrasing are highly similar to Lande's, which is great. There are moments on the album, unless you look in the CD booklet, you wouldn't know it's not Jorn Lande singing. Carpenter does an excellent job; he sings passionately and will easily convince everyone that he is the perfect choice. Finn Zierler, the man behind Beyond Twilight, is still responsible for most of the songwriting on this disc, which is darker than ever, more progressive and more cinematic. Seemingly written locked in a dark attic, the dirty streets of London and near a cold lake, Section X is the continuation of Beyond Twilight's debut concept, and it kicks off with a very similar theme. There is also an informative and quite interesting storyline printed in the booklet. Even though I can't say I'm too impressed by the concept, neither was I by the one in the previous album. It's more Zierler's unique understanding of composition and creating thick, layered soundscapes that draw me to the sound and style of Beyond Twilight. Once again the production on this album is huge, thanks to Zierler's cooperation with Tommy Hansen during the mixing stages. This album is more of progressive tinged disc with sweeping arrangements and numerous emotional twists. Jacob Hansen's addition to the fold also serves this purpose, and his presence is easily noticeable. Give a close listen to the way the guitars slowly soar above Zierler's piano on "Sleeping Beauty" and how they fade into infinity as if the wind carries them away. This song also features guest vocalist Truls Haugen whose clean singing exchanges spots with Carpenter's more aggressive style. The big chorus filled with Latin lyrics is a reference to the first Beyond Twilight album, except that the female choir singing it is a lot more effective this time around. New vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter takes on many different roles through the album. From the most haunting melody lines pulled out of the depths of hell that permeat "The Path of Darkness", the gruff and enraged singing on "Shadow Self", the cold spoken passages on "The Dark Side", or even the more multi-octave hitting screams on the 9-minute closing title track, Carpenter makes this album as amazing as the highly acclaimed debut, and certainly proves to be a fantastic addition to prog metal singers. Once the debut Outworld disc sees the light of day, it will be a headturner, mark my words. There is a mindblowing instrumental track titled "Portrait F in Dark Waters", a classical intermezzo that starts out lush and laid-back,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Awaken the Guardian; Brand: Fates Warning; Review: Most prog metal fans overlook this masterpiece for some reason. To them, it all starts with Fates Warning's Perfect Symmetry, which is agreeable, since Perfect Symmetry is the band's first actual foray into prog metal. However, Awaken the Guardian, given its release date, was one of the driving forces of prog metal when a term as "prog metal" didn't even exist. Released almost 20 years ago, Awaken the Guardian is still as perfect as it was way back. This was the first Fates Warning disc I ever bought and I still listen to it on a regular basis. With each passing year, I re-discover its brilliance and impact on the genre. This band is kind of like Psychotic Waltz who were also as amazing and influential but were always overlooked by the masses. If you've never listened to pre-Parallels period Fates Warning, then you might be pleasantly surprised. Awaken the Guardian is the last album with original singer John Arch and the best in my opinion. Arch seriously defined the sound of Fates Warning on the fist three releases since he co-wrote each song with guitarist Jim Matheos. He co-wrote each song on ATG as well, except the instrumental piece, "Time Long Past". Of note is that Arch co-wrote "Giant's Lore (Heart of Winter)" with second guitarist Frank Aresti and I believe this is the only track in the entire Fates Warning catalog that wasn't written by Jim Matheos. I said it before and I'll reiterate: John Arch is one of the most amazing singers that has ever walked the face of the earth. He can wail like every other screamer out there, but what's more is, he can still retain melody hitting those high notes. Unfortunately, Awaken the Guardian was the last album he did before he disappeared for 17 years only to return with a two-track solo project where he proved his voice was still as amazing as ever. The lineup on Awaken the Guardian differs greatly from their current one, or vice versa. With a second guitarist, Frank Aresti, who plays unique DARK acoustic pieces, as well as lead solos alongside Matheos; original drummer Steve Zimmerman, who is very different from demigod Mark Zonder, but equally competent and intense in his own way; and bassist Joe DiBiase, who is more of a traditional Heavy Metal bass guitarist than someone like Joey Vera, this album sees the band blending its traditional metal roots with their branched-out technicality and more progressive approach to songwriting. The music offers a wide array of musical diversity that will appeal to any metal fan, regardless of the genres they're attached to. Matheos and Aresti play sharp, heavy and aggressive guitar riffs with extensive solos that will please any metalhead. As I mentioned above, Aresti lays down some really evil acoustic guitars, like the one in the intro, "The Sorceress". That is perhaps the most evil intro on any Fates Warning album. There is more of this plucked acoustic guitar to be heard on "Guardian" as well as on the instrumental track, "Time Long Past". The; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fullness of Time; Brand: Redemption; Review: Multi-instrumentalist Nick van Dyk's Redemption proved to be a great project with their 2003 debut featuring an impressive list of guest musicians, including members from Fates Warning and Symphony X. Nick van Dyk played pretty much every instrument on the album except the drums and the album was a huge success. Unfortunately, due to the weak production in spots, the album didn't reach its ultimate perfection, mainly because of Rick Mythiasin's poorly mixed vocals. Now, almost three years later, Redemption is back. Things have changed quite a bit since then. While still primarily Nick van Dyk's band as he wrote all the music and lyrics himself, he has enlisted the services of Prymary bassist James Sherwood and drummer Chris Quirarte, retaining the amazing Bernie Versailles on second guitar and handling the keyboard stuff himself. Enter new singer - none other than the amazing Ray Alder from Fates Warning. Ray Alder's contribution to the album is immense. His singing actually sounds quite different from his work with Fates Warning or Engine. I assume that's because Nick van Dyk wrote all the music including the vocal melodies. Alder sure has added his quality to them though. His voice is warm and utterly emotive. He sings the lyrics with utmost conviction and tremendous clarity. He is simply like no other singer out there. The album is comprised of two parts. The first four songs are the independent songs, starting with the highly energetic "Threads" where Chris Quirarte is at his drumming best laying down speedy, concise beats over a vague keyboard line and matching up Nick and Bernie Versailles' dense rhythm work. "Parker's Eyes" is a cerebral track whose lyrical content revolves around feelings of anger, despair and rage. The song touches on various themes including the 9/11 event and corrupt politics. "Scarred" is easily the heaviest track on the album - the main riff right at the beginning unleashes a wave of dense rhythm and it has an impossibly beautiful chorus. The song is dark, complex and heavy. I love the unison solo going on in the middle where Nick and Bernie Versailles really cut it loose. This track would fit seamlessly with any of the songs on Dream Theater's Awake. The epic tune, "Sapphire", starts out with plucked acoustic guitars and builds on and on until the breaking point at around 2:15. Ray Alder's rendition of the chorus during the "Treasures can slip through your fingertips" line is heart-stopping as is the subtle piano melody mixing up with awesome guitar cadences. The whole song, although 16 minutes long, never becomes repetitive, neither with its lyrics nor the music. I'm at loss for words. Simply incredible. The title track is made up of four subtracks: "i. Rage", "ii. Despair", "iii. Release" and "iv. Transcendence". Put together, they take up more than 20 minutes of the album. All four cuts exemplify dark progressive metal with ethereal keys and pianos merging with raging guitars and an emotionally exhausting vocal performance. Each piece is quite varied in itself, as "Despair" contains a mildly exotic section rendered by; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Annihilation Of The Wicked; Brand: Nile; Review: Nile's new album Annihilation of the Wicked (An-NILE-ation of the the Wicked) is a towering death metal monolith that does justice to this great band's name. The band continues to expand the scope of death metal with their trademark Egyptian melodies interwoven with mind-twisting technicality and impossible songwriting. Despite numerous lineup changes on every album, Karl Sanders manages to keep the music fresh and intact from start to finish. New drummer George Kollias from Sickening Horror does a fantastic job filling Derek Roddy and Tony Laureano's shoes - his timing is scary, his kick-drums are lightning fast and his rhythms are thunderous. He also took part in the songwriting along with long-time guitarist Dallas Toler-Wade and Karl Sanders of course. Sadly though, bassist Jon Vesano has quit the band shortly after he finished recording the album. All that aside, let's get to business. Annihilation of the Wicked is one of the best death metal releases of 2005, perhaps even the best. But how does it compare to their amazing back catalog? On this album, the Egyptian melodies and different kinds of world instruments heard on Nile's previous albums such as Black Seeds of Vengeance and In Their Darkened Shrines have been curtailed a bit. This must be because of Sanders' 2004 solo release Saurian Meditation on which I assume he must have got a lot of those Middle Eastern ideas and themes out of his system. As a result, Annihilation of the Wicked is relatively heavier guitar and drums-wise and features impeccable guitar riffs and solos delivered by the solid guitar tandem. Moreover, Sanders' vocals are slightly toned down, though not in a negative way. His growls are still as low and guttural as ever and can easily destroy anything that gets in his way. Kollias' drum sound is huge, thanks to Neil Kernon's stellar production job. This disc has by far their strongest sound where the production value allows every instrument to stand out and offers the listener a clean, clear and honest yet brutal representation of the band's material. It's this particular brutality encapsulated on Nile albums that separates them from pretty much every other death metal band in the world. Obviously Neil Kernon's touch has rendered a clearer and more precise sound than before. Although not a concept album, the lyrics and music portray overall an apocalyptic vibe and feeling. To match the darkness of the theme, Nile have created huge amount of atmospherics on this disc starting with their brief intro laced by a nice Middle Eastern acoustic instrument. The songs from then on erupt into complete chaos combining the extreme speed and nihilism of death metal with original musical ideas. The songs are littered with ultra-heavy death metal riffs, rapid-fire drumming and twisted lead guitar work. The jarring tempo changes and laser-precise rhythm guitar riffage on "User-Maat-Re" are astonishing. The Egyptian melodies aren't abondoned completely though: "The Burning Pits of the Duat" contains a flashy guitar solo whilst its follower reeks of ancient Egyptian atmospheres from beginning to end. Another short instrumental interlude serves the purpose of; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Morningrise; Brand: Opeth; Review: I've always argued that Morningrise is in many ways their darkest and most captivating album. Those who got into Opeth during their post-Still Life period, mostly starting with their Steven Wilson-produced breakthrough record Blackwater Park, usually tend to be disappointed by the lack of pristine prog sound and layered production work on Morningrise. It is true that Morningrise, as its predecessor Orchid, has a raw and dry sound compared to the band's later efforts. I, however, believe that this is all intentional to help create the dark atmosphere on this album, which is simply unique. Opeth has always worked with amazing producers, be it the godly Fredrik Nordstrom on Still Life or Steven Wilson on Blackwater Park onwards. However, they recorded their first two discs with another genius, namely Dan Swano, to whom they proudly refer as their "guide" in the CD booklet. It is the Dan Swano factor what makes the first two albums more challenging listens than their follow-ups, but once you can get into them, you'll be addicted like you've never been before. I'll even go as far as saying that if every Opeth fan heard all Opeth discs 50+ times, most of them would declare Morningrise the highlight of their career, as far as atmosphere and sheer emotion are concerned at least. Sure, Mikael Akerfeldt has improved his death growls and especially his clean vocals significantly over the years, but somehow it's the raw mix, Mikael's more violent and less aesthetic vocals, the somewhat murky yet fitting twin guitar harmonies and totally unique songwriting that set Morningrise apart from every other Opeth release. Comprised of only five songs, none of which run under 10 minutes, Morningrise begins with the 13-minute epic "Advent" whose folky acoustic intro contrasts the immediate twin guitars that explode along with Akerfeldt's blackish scream-like vocals. The melodies, both on this song and the entire album, are immortal. Lindgren and Akerfeldt's twin guitars create amazing tapestries around each song, utilizing jazzy drumming from Anders Nordin and great bass work from Johan DeFarfalla. Unfortunately, this is the last album of Opeth enlisting the services of this solid rhythm section. Though I prefer their current lineup, I don't believe Morningrise would have been so amazing without DeFarfalla and Nordin adding their touches. They both incorporate subtle jazz harmonies in their playing enriching the psychedelic passages on the album. During the breakdown of the track, Akerfeldt briefly sings clean vocals over a beautiful acoustic interlude. Inspired by the loss of a loved one (Akerfeldt's grandfather), the opening riff on "The Night and the Silent Water" is quite possibly one of my favourite Opeth riffs, ever. The guitar harmonies followed by another acoustic passage are dark and utterly emotive. I especially shudder at the end when I hear Akerfeldt's haunting vocal delivery where he basically whispers the words. Every song on this album has great acoustic guitars strummed in slow arpeggios. "Nectar" mixes colourful cymbal work and chiming bass lines that exhibit tight melody and a tense rhythmic feel. Once again we are presented a staggering twin guitar harmony; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elegy; Brand: Amorphis; Review: Amorphis takes its name from the word "amorphous" which means "lacking definite form, shapeless". Looking at their huge back catalog, it should be easy to see that they've lived up to their name, as no album sounds like its predecessor or follow-up. Amorphis started out as a fiery death metal band evolving into a keyboard-supported midtempo death metal band and then into a more progressive band with folk and classic rock influences. Elegy is their 1996 release and in many ways their most ambitious work. The album features two new members whose impacts make it perhaps Amorphis' most amazing album to date. Vocalist Pasi Koskinen is the new clean singer alongside former rhythm guitarist/vocalist Tomi Koivusaari's occasional death growls. This is their transition from their earlier extreme metal roots to a more folky, progressive rock soundscape. Koskinen's clear vocals are very emotive and provide a nice contrast to their former singer's brutal delivery on tracks like "Better Unborn" (with a sweet Arabic guitar melody), "Against Widows", and "On Rich and Poor". New keyboardist Kim Rantala (whose debut with the band was the previous Black Winter Day EP) brings a very progressive edge to the band's music mining the melodic veins within Elegy. It's a shame he didn't stay with Amorphis for another release, as his analog keyboard work meshed very well with the awesome guitar themes. Rantala's playing often lends itself to 70's Floydian atmospheres, such as on the ballad "Orphan" where the keyboards function as a lucid texture below folky guitar melodies; or on the powerful "My Kantele" adding complex harmonies and a very well played synth solo. This is one of the finest tracks on this disc with timeless guitar melodies, excellent clean and death vocals, and a balanced guitar and keyboard duel. However, Rantala's curious keyboard work is mostly noticeable on the experimental cut "Cares" featuring plenty of electronic samples and a very Floydian synth solo contrasting Koivusaari's brutal singing. The songs on Elegy are based on Finnish literature and draw their inspirations from the traditional Finnish work The Kanteletar which is comprised of hundreds of poems reflecting Finnish people's philosophical and religious beliefs. This is what is written in the booklet: "Inspired by the intensity of the poems and their ability to communicate everyday simplicity with such vigor, Amorphis have created the music of Elegy to reflect the honesty and majesty found within the Kanteletar's legendary verses..." I guess this also explains where the heavy Kingston Wall-inspired folk melodies come from. The folk motifs on "Weeper on the Shore", the title track, and the instrumental piece "Relief" have also mined the band's next release Tuonela, which is basically a testimony to folk rock with Koskinen doing all clean vocals except one song. The title track, also the longest song, conjures a variety of moods with lots of guitar and keyboard interplay, some interesting sitar and tambourine elements, and intense vocals from both singers to match the dark mood built by elaborate keyboard work. There is a very catchy guitar theme on this song that soars passionately over the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dreams of Death; Brand: Flotsam & Jetsam; Review: After their previous three albums on Metal Blade, Flotsam and Jetsam have released their new disc Dreams of Death through a different label, Crash Music. This platter finds them going back to their older thrash metal roots as well as merging more atmospheric elements into their songs. Overall, the writing is more coherent, the guitar work is more exciting, and Eric AK's vocals are more effective. Dreams of Death may be their best album since the band's Cuatro/Drift days, featuring some meaty thrash metal riffage on the first song "Straight to Hell", which ties in with the brief intro track. This song is one of the most complex, rhythmically advanced, and heaviest numbers on Dreams of Death. Some great guitar work adds gripping melodies and matches the intricate vocals of Eric AK who offers an array of rich vocal deliveries throughout. The best part of Dreams of Death is the band's noticeable improvement in songwriting, utilising plenty of melodic guitar lines that aren't afraid to explore thrash metal territory at times. Furthermore, there are solos on this disc aplenty. Rather than diving headlong into a groove-oriented style as most old school thrash band tend to do these days, Flotsam and Jetsam are still playing fierce rhythms and stormy guitar runs. Even the shorter tracks, which don't seem to be on the same level as some other songs, have at least a very satisfying guitar solo. The shortest song "Parasychotic" would be considered mediocre had it not been for the awesome guitar solo at the end. I detect some early period Voivod in this solo, which is a welcome similarity to these ears. It is, however, the more atmospheric elements found on the songs "Bleed", "Childhood Hero", and the amazing "Bathing in Red" which truly diversify the album. Flotsam and Jetsam carefully inject fragments of acoustic guitars and weave them into a metallic tapestry, utilising curious drum and bass workout, overlapping guitar themes, and a fantastic vocal performance. Granted Eric AK is not screaming his lungs out in every song, he still does them all justice singing interesting lyrics ("Look in His Eyes") and rendering the songs more powerful. "Nascentes Morimar" is the instrumental finale of the album and one of the finest on the record. Tense yet overtly expressive guitar themes overlap each other creating thick tonal movements and are replaced by dark acoustic passages. No showboating on this song, but it's so well written, played and recorded that it will please many Flotsam and Jetsam fans. I highly recommend picking up the version with the bonus track "Out of Mind", which is also featured with a hidden track, as the song is absolutely essential and exemplifies the band's thrash metal assault. I love the guitar solo on this piece - it may be the best on the album actually. This is also the longest piece, running almost 12 minutes, but there's a brief silence after "Out of Mind" which ties in with the atmospheric untitled number. Granted it's not a real song per se, it really enhances the overall quality of; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Doomsday Machine; Brand: Arch Enemy; Review: Swedish death metallers Arch Enemy return with Doomsday Machine, a much welcome new album after their previous disc Anthems of Rebellion. Although it was their breakthrough record earning Arch Enemy massive critical acclaim and lots of new fans, at the same time it was easily their most streamlined offering to date. With their new album, the band goes back to the heaviness and complexity of Wages of Sin, their first disc with current female growler Angela Gossow. Guitarists Mike Amott and Chris Amott supply blistering lead solos that merge melody and aggression, whilst Sharlee D'Angelo on bass and Daniel Erlandsson on drums form the solid rhythm section. Though good, I feel Sharlee D'Angelo provided a more pronounced and violent performance on the last Spiritual Beggars album (also recommended to all Arch Enemy fans) released recently. Daniel Erlandsson, however, absolutely shines on this disc. His tone, his timing and his understanding of rhythm are perfectly exemplified on all the songs. They range from fierce blast beats to odd metered polyrhythms and plain out drum solos. Angela Gossow's vocals are slighlty toned down; she doesn't sing very low as she did on the previous two discs, but therefore her vocals are easier to follow and let the lyrics come out better. Speaking of which, the lyrical content seems to be a more detailed study of the ones on Anthems of Rebellion, addressing social decay and rebellion of the individual. Needless to say, as on any other Arch Enemy disc, the meat of the music on Doomsday Machine is the Amott brothers. They once again prove to be an indistructible duo, laying down brutal, dark and imaginative guitar leads executed flawlessly. Though hardly the heaviest Arch Enemy album as many people including some of the band members themselves claim, Doomsday Machine must be their most versatile and certainly most experimental effort. The songwriting mainly projects a combination of classic Swedish melodicism with old school death metal. "Taking Back My Soul", perhaps also the heaviest and meanest cut on this disc, starts out so heavily and relentlessly that it is almost impossible to identify it's actually the Arch Enemy guys playing those killer guitar riffs. As a matter of fact, the classic death metal riffage is akin to Morbid Angel's golden period or any other American death metal band from the early 90's. It does lead into the trademark Arch Enemy sound after the first two minutes, however. A memorable guitar solo blends seamlessly with Gossow's brutal vocals and reaches its apex with the addition of Erlandsson's blistering drum work. The following songs, besides still retaining their heavy stance, also see the band experimenting with more atmospheric elements. Take the ending of "Nemesis" as an example; the aggressive thrashy tune first delves into a mild acoustic break before picking up only to give way to a wave of dissonant sound that messes with the head. "Carry the Cross" displays a tortured and agonizing vocal performance from Gossow and is probably the doomiest track they have ever penned, save for the traditional metal solo at the end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Believe; Brand: Pendragon; Review: Four years after Not of This World, British neo proggers Pendragon return with a new album. As with every other Pendragon offering, the new CD, while staying true to the band's melodic roots and progressive orientation, has quite some new elements to offer. Nick Barrett's songwriting has certainly moved into a more acoustic-driven approach, utilising plenty of classical guitar, some flamenco, and even folky segments. Clive Nolan's input on keyboards seems to be slighlty reduced, especially if you are expecting a lot of keyboard-guitar interplay. However, Nolan is there in a different capacity. He helps create the dense and somewhat dreamy atmosphere on the album adding in quirky synth lines, various sound samples, and the classic Clive Nolan melodies fans of Pendragon and Arena have come to expect from him. The short title track signals what the listener should expect from Believe, encompassing a mystic, slightly Eastern feel with a vast array of sound samples, soft female vocals that seem to sing in Gaelic, thick threads of atmospheric elements, and an enigmatic blues solo. Surprisingly though, the band displays a more hard rock style on the next piece "No Place for the Innocent", a straightahead rocker that will please fans of Led Zeppelin and Queen. Don't be mistaken, however. This is still Pendragon with numerous changes of speed and rhythm and a great contrast between acoustic and electric guitar. "The Wisdom of Solomon" may be the best cut to represent Believe as a whole, and one of the highlights of the album. Female vocals, sound samples and Barrett's amazing lead guitar work characterized by instantly memorable melodies kick the song off, leading into a lengthy acoustic guitar interlude that is right up there with the brilliance of Andy Latimer's work. There is even a jolty electronic section in the middle which showcases the experimental edge of the album. On top of all we have Nick Barrett's vocals which sound even stronger and more passionate than before. The strong lyrical content also embeds the piece as one of the best Pendragon songs. "The Wishing Well" is the epic of Believe, with a remarkable length that breaks the 20-minute mark. The song is divided into four sub-sections, each focusing on different movements and venturing into different musical areas. Granted the song is well written and performed, some Pendragon fans may be taken aback by the somewhat drawn-out narrated parts by Nick Barrett on "For Your Journey", as meticulous synth work and female vocals echo deep down in the mix. The Celtic feel of "So by Sowest" lends the album a welcome folk sound along with Nick's plucked acoustic guitars and passionate vocal delivery. "We Talked" adds in some groove with a wide range of ethnic and pastoral elements, leading into the final section, "Two Roads", perhaps the band's most similar song to their earlier works. The song embodies lofty acoustics, smooth e-bow, vibrant drumming, continuous speed changes, a stunning guitar theme with a very catchy main chorus that just doesn't let go. The mystic elements resurface on the bass-driven "Learning Curve" which ends with; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Live In 2005 - Gluttons For Punishment; Brand: Spock's Beard; Review: Rumours have it that the new Spock's Beard double live album, Gluttons for Punishment, got its name from an obscure Deep Purple bootleg recrorded in the 70's. I'm sure we'll find out soon if this is true, when the guys start giving interviews regarding their new work. Gluttons for Punishment is the first live disc of Spock's Beard in the post-Neal Morse period, and having been recorded on the band's Octane tour, it features mostly songs on their last two studio releases, obviously focusing on the Octane pieces, and rightfully so. This is a good package for those who have been doubtful about the future of Spock's Beard, and never got around to checking out Feel Euphoria and Octane due to the absence of original vocalist and songwriter Neal Morse. Let me assure you all that if you pick this collection of songs up, it will not only restore your faith in the band, but also you will have the chance to form a solid opinion on their newer material. The first disc begins with the band successfully performing their A Flash Before My Eyes epic in its entirety, all seven parts of it. In some moments, their rendition surpasses the original versions of the tracks, thanks to Rob Aubrey's great mix and recording. The band is tight as a unit and touring drummer Jimmy Keegan is doing a fantastic job, as Nick D'Virgilio is centre-stage, confidently delivering the tunes. Each track has its own apex. The sweeping guitar, piano, and bass combination on "The Ballet of the Impact" offers a warm, slick songmanship with an effective vocal performance - a great piece to get things going. Alan Morse's guitar tone on the acoustic ballad "I Wouldn't Let It Go" is rich, enabling each note to have a more lasting effect. Ryo Okumoto's Mellotron is also on display, but I'm particularly impressed by the organ sound that he employs in the last minute of the track. "Surfing Down the Avalanche", together with "Climbing Up That Hill", is the hard-hitting, groovy rock number, containing ferocious bass (what a sound!), powerful drumming, flowing guitar melodies, and washes of Mellotron. The chorus on "Climbing Up That Hill" is infectious and filled with incredible drum fills. "She Is Everything" is the heart-breaking ballad, punctuated by a swirling guitar intro, nice synth sounds, and an inspired blues solo. Nick D'Virgilio's voice has a great pitch, and he is at its emotional best. The epic is wrapped up by "Of the Beauty of It All", kicking in after Okumoto's sweet synth intro, only to once again show how amazing his synth 'chorus' on this cut is. It is continously repeated, giving the song more than one highlight moment, as memorable guitar hooks and wild drumming also make themselves an important part of the tune. The band, finally convinced they've had a good first impression on the audience, briefly interacts with them and dives into The Kindness of Strangers number "Harm's Way", introducing a more complex song structure accented by sweet Moog sounds, thick guitar chords, bluesy solos, jazz; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Battle; Brand: Russell Allen; Review: With two of rock's best singers on the same bill, this album is more than likely to be considered Russel Allen and Jorn Lande "battling" it out, trying to score on each other with their universal vocal talents. Not even close. Well, here's the deal. This album is the brainchild of Magnus Karlsson from Last Tribe and Starbreaker, as he is solely responsible for all music and lyrics. However, he (or his record label) has wisely chosen to title it as the Allen/Lande project to increase the marketability of the release, also enlisting the services of Jaime Salazar on drums. Everything else from guitars to keys and bass is played by Magnus Karlsson. Personally, when I first heard of this project being in the works, given the two vocalists' back catalogs filled with progressive monuments, I couldn't help but expect a darker, heavier and obviously progressive release, perhaps something in between Symphony X's The Odyssey and Jorn's killer products under the Beyond Twilight and Ark monikers. However, as good as the album is now, it just turned out to be a solo album of Magnus Karlsson (and maybe this should be mentioned on the CD cover) with two amazing singers lending their vocal abilities. Moreover, I expected this to be a real "duet" album, where Jorn and Russel would get together, and actually exchange verses and even choruses to grace us with a timeless metal release. Again, things have been handled differently. As a matter of fact, this is hardly the meeting point of Russel Allen and Jorn Lande, as they didn't even see each other when they laid down their vocal parts. Jorn actually recorded his parts last year in the fall of 2004 in Norway, while Russel recorded his voice earlier this year back in the USA. Perhaps it's no big deal, as there are plenty of projects out there with numerous guest vocalists. But then maybe that's the difference. This was supposed to be a unique album with two (not ten, twelve or fifteen!) amazingly powerful voices coming together, perhaps writing together, and definitely recording together. Out of twelve tracks, six of them are the "duet" pieces, if you want to call them such. Sadly those duets feel like Jorn Lande is doing the leads, especially in the choruses, whilst Russel Allen is lower in the mix, singing high pitch and trying to harmonise with him. Could this be the reason that Jorn was the first to record the album and therefore had the freedom to choose the vocal melodies? More than possible. Yes, the verse and bridges are fairly shared, but it's still evident they were recorded at a different time and place. The choruses, however, on all six songs put Jorn's voice under the light, and Russel is just behind there hitting some higher notes. Does it sound bad? Not even the slightest bit. But I certainly expected more. With all of this being said, the album did impact me to a certain degree after many listens. What we have here is a melodic metal meets power; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Emotional Animal; Brand: Doug Pinnick; Review: Any King's X fan knows that the two albums Doug Pinnick released under the Poundhound moniker were nothing but absolute solo discs that allowed him to explore different aspects of songwriting and offer his great legion of fans a more personal side of his music. Emotional Animal is still a solo album; it just got released under Pinnick's own name (except that he likes to spell his name as dUg rather than Doug) and he is still the man responsible for everything on it. As with the two Poundhound discs, he has written all lyrics and music, played all instruments with the exception of drums, and even recorded and mixed the album on his own. Before going into the details, I have to point out that the production on Emotional Animal is incredibly tight, with great sonic quality and sound separation. You'll hear various elements popping out from all different angles at various times with great dynamics. It's really awesome. On Emotional Animal, Doug Pinnick continues to use his solo albums as a medium to push his music into unexplored directions. Although the album does share some common themes with the Poundhound records, this one is less groovy and more experimental. The songs are forthright and do not emphasize Pinnick's amazing multi-vocal harmonies heard on King's X stuff. On the contrary, Pinnick opts for a more profound musical statement by disregarding standard songwriting formulas, and forming a solid hybrid of rock, funk, grunge, alternative and pop. His voice is still among rock's most soulful ever and his lyrics are extremely personal. Best seen on the moving ballad "Beautiful", Pinnick actually sings it to himself by just creating an imaginery 'you' person, and the chorus that goes, "Don't forget that you're beautiful just the way you are" is simply haunting, given the way it is worked into the song thanks to a groovy bass bottom. Likewise, the somewhat tongue-in-cheek commentary on "Equal Rights" is actually a very sincere statement, and it is only strengthened by his classic rock signature and gospel-like vocal delivery. He even plays slide guitar on this piece that is nothing short of impressive. As a matter fact, this album is unafraid to borrow a multitude of non-rock instruments. I hear weird percussion work on "Noon", one of the darkest and creepiest songs Pinnick has written that delivers blues guitar licks and blends them with a grungy vocal style. As usual, Pinnick has a knack for melodies and this song is stamped with a very memorable melody through its 5-minute running time. While the first half of the album contains more straightforward rock numbers punctuated by grinding groove and hard-hitting bass tones, the second half is more varied and experimental. The dirty rock'n roll on "Zepp" morphs into an unexpected trance of psychedelia halfway through, only to feature a long drum solo played by Joy Gaskill. Yes, Joy is King's X drummer Jerry Gaskill's son, and he is an amazing drummer. His style is diverse and rhythm-friendly. However, as on "Zepp", he will also cut loose from time to time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Empires of the World; Brand: Biomechanical; Review: Biomechanical's The Empires of the Worlds is the metal surprise of the year for me. Its relentless power yields intense moments of crushingly heavy extreme music with touches of thrash, traditional, industrial, and even progressive metal. Built around complex harmonies and song structures, the music is meticulously produced resulting in a hybrid of dense staccato string bends, semi-melodious and semi-growled vocals that easily tear the stratosphere, and a hyper-speed chaos of rhythm intensity. All elements are combined in order to make a lasting musical statement that fearlessly transcends boundaries making the album impossible to categorize. The dark cover art done by Nat Jones suggests Swedish thrash/death ala The Haunted or Hypocrisy, though Biomechanical shares little in common with either band, except their undeniable thrash metal riffery that characterizes their sound. Biomechanical does play a perfect mix of post-thrash and industrial with vivid traditional heavy metal overtones that often suggest Judas Priest or early Mercyful Fate, particularly in their guitar work. Add to this John K's inhuman vocals that can range from a deep Devin Townsend-like growl to majestic high screams from the likes of Rob Halford or Wade Black. The title track illustrates said amalgamation with its focused clean vocals contrasted by aggressive low growls and some Swedish scream harmonies. However, all extreme elements are put aside when the band's guitar tandem throws a swirling guitar solo that brings to mind the best moments of Downing and Tipton as well as Hank Shermann and Michael Denner (Mercyful Fate). Aside from the heavily Priest-inspired lead solos, Biomechanical's guitar duo Chris Webb and Jamie Hunt also lay down some amazing rapid-fire riffs coloured with post-thrash motifs and a Gene Hoglan-type of drummer that plays his instrument with ruthless aggression and stunning speed. Injected with a massive orchestration sound, the first track "Enemy Within" immediately recalls Strapping Young Lad, moreso than any other band. Industrial sound effects, swift keyboard layerings and a demonic twin guitar tandem that impresses with their sweep and pinch harmonic work are melted into the track to both define the sound of the band and expose their diversity. Moreover, The Empires of the Worlds has a great film continuity to it, as main composer John K is very much into film score. From the creepy sound effects and heavily orchestrated "Regenerated" to the Cronenberg movie-inspired "Existenz" to the epic-sounding "Survival", the disc is filled with audio moments that give the album a visual feel. Given that this is also the second chapter of a huge concept piece, the band has incorporated these elements with great attention to detail. This is far from the typical "write a song and slap an orchestra on it" attitude. The orchestral arrangements actually are the song itself and they play a very vital role in the music. What's better, however, is that not even a single minute of heaviness has been compromised; the orchestra is there to add texture and enrich the arrangements. What we have in the foreground is sped-up twin guitars that, as on "Assaulter", can go from a Testament feel with melodic vocal; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Celebration of Guilt; Brand: Arsis; Review: Arsis takes its name from a musical term meaning "silence", but during the course of this album's running time, that is the last thing you should expect. A Celebration of Guilt is the creation of two talented men, one of them being the multi-instrumentalist James Malone. He plays guitars, bass, and does the vocals on all songs with Michael Van Dyne tackling the drum work successfully. Most two-men projects either suffer from poor production work or a terrible programmed drum sound that almost kills the magic of the music. Thankfully, A Celebration of Guilt proves to be a nice exception with its solid musicianship and fitting production, particularly for a first album. This is a cross between melodic death metal that harkens back to the glorious days of Carcass' Heartwork era with its majestically performed dual lead guitars, recorded and mixed appropriately. The drumming is fast and pummeling; thick kick drum sounds fill the tunes with fat bass lines and a singer that has a great low growl type of voice. Often evocative of earlier At the Gates and Dark Tranquillity, Malone also employs a more screechy delivery akin to black metal shrieks or the less produced vocals of Alexi Laiho on the first Children of Bodom disc. Though not black metal, the album does feature a healthy dose of blast beats and tremelo-picked guitar runs, particularly on "Seven Whispers Fell Silent" and "Return". The latter also has a magnificent guitar solo marked by a great command of melody. The aggressive guitars contrasting the sweet melodic passages on "Worship Depraved" or the darker and relatively more midtempo offering on "Dust and Guilt" displays the band is far from a one-dimensional duo that can only produce mind-boggling speed riffs and extreme vocals. The classically influenced sweep solo on "Dust and Guilt" suggests melodic flow, while the thrash-ridden riff work on "Carnal Ways to Recreate the Heart" is the band's testimony to early 90's Swedish death metal. In many ways very well harnessed, the album does have some minor setbacks. Though being a debut, it's nothing too serious. That said, some of the guitars tend to rely on overtly repeated riffs like on "The Face of My Innocence" where the same lick is played over for a good minute with no variation. And once the repetition is also noticed by the band themselves, the first thing they employ is a Swedish galloping riff akin to those on At the Gates' Slaughter of the Soul. With all due respect to this young American band, I feel this approach has much taken its toll and been done to death. Hopefully this minor problem will be overcome in the band's next release. Also, the fact that Arsis borders on the more aggressive and technical end of the equation where melody is not used as a medium to be listener-friendly, but moreso as a vital part of their craft that improves the composition.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Songs of Sanity; Brand: John5; Review: A quick listen of John 5's Songs for Sanity is bound to suggest that his previous collaborations with artists such as David Lee Roth, Marilyn Manson, Rob Halford, Rob Zombie, and John Wetton to name a few were certainly quite limiting given his talents presented on his solo albums. John Lowery goes under the name John 5 and Songs for Sanity is his second solo output after the critically acclaimed Vertigo. This is an entirely instrumental release with the exception of some spoken parts in a song or two or a funny appearance of a singer who attemps to sing in a reggae style on "Gods and Monsters", one of the more atmospheric and laid-back tunes with electronic drum beats and synth work, fuzzy guitar sounds, and eventually a challenging lead solo that is rather impressive. The first half of the album is decidedly more shred-oriented; manic sweeps fill "Damaged", the album opener, together with heavy as hell rhythms and a bluesy guitar tone utilising Morse-like picking. Over-dubbed guitar lines duel with each other, leaving the non-Manson fan speechless when it comes to John 5's amazing skill in his instrument. Fast (and I mean really fast!) tapping licks open "Soul of a Robot", littered with killer vibrato work that is generated by an almost robotic proficiency. The song delves into classic rock territory but is carried out in a very Steve Vai-like playfulness, producing weird soundscapes. John 5 then explores some bluegrass meets country on "Gein with Envy", a bit similar to the stuff on String Cheese Incident's last album, and immediately launches into his first atmospheric track, the moody "Sin". Modern sounds emerge recalling his past with Manson and his recent stint with Rob Zombie. However, all of it is put aside with the arrival of an impossibly fast shred guitar that then is again replaced by an atmospheric break allowing the drums to shine. The whammy bar usage at the end is a bit excessive and overtly Steve Vai influenced, but I'm sure the average guitar fan will love it. The "Blues Balls" title is self-explanatory, enriched with echoic organ sounds floating about in the background layered by classic rock guitar melodies. From here on, the album develops a more cinematic feel starting with "Fiddler's" which begins with a tongue-in-cheek commentary about the singer in HIM, and John says he prefers guitar shred and showcases his frenzied instrumental prowess. "2 Die 4" is the darkest cut, with sporadic acoustic guitars and weird sound effects that would make for a great horror movie soundtrack. "Death Valley" is another classic rock tune, except that it begins with a woman giving directions with car horns and heavy traffic heard in the background. Finally John 5 meets Steve Vai, undoubtedly one his main inspirations, on "Perineum", and the two guitarists shred each other out, exchanging solo spots and then doing unison solos. The song marries modern production with classic guitar virtuoso and never fails to borrow Vai's mystical guitar tones along the way. It ends with a long ambient section bleeding into "Denouement", another; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ?; Brand: Neal Morse; Review: Neal Morse's new solo album ? embarks on excellent songwriting as always. It is rich in progressive rock elements reminiscent of his former bands Spock's Beard and Transatlantic; as well as his previous solo works, in that it is a continuation of his spiritual and musical journey. ? is a single long-form composition divided into twelve tracks. Other than that, the flow from one piece to another is so seamless and natural that some parts of the melodies actually bleed into the following track without the listener noticing it. Furthermore, there are certain themes, melodies or subtle lyrical references used in more than one song to tie each piece together and suggest a sense of wholeness. Arguably Morse's most progressive solo work, this album features an incredibly impressive list of guests, added to his long-time rhythm section consisting of Randy George on bass and Mike Portnoy on drums. Alan Morse, Neal's brother from Spock's Beard, returns to the fold to offer his guitar talents along with Roine Stolt from The Flower Kings (Morse also appears on Stolt's upcoming solo album by the way). However, the biggest surprise for me was the addition of Genesis mastermind Steve Hackett, whose unique and easily identifiable phrasing and tone set him apart from pretty much everyone else out there. Last but not the least, Dream Theater's keyboard wizard Jordan Rudess also graces ? with timeless synth solos that duel with both Alan Morse and Roine Stolt's lead guitars. As usual, there are a good dose of cellos, violins, horn sections, bag pipes, and Mark Leniger's trademark saxophone sounds to enrich the compositional qualities of the songs, interwoven into the mix thanks to Neal Morse's amazing skill for song arrangement and production. The album starts and ends with a piece titled "The Temple of the God", giving a good explanation of the concept underlying it, and both pieces share some common lyrics and musical ideas. For instance, while the opener begins with soft wind effects and indiscernible whispers; the last track ends exactly in the same way. However, the body of the songs are filled with hugely varying elements. A distant blues guitar harmony starts the album off, followed by Neal's unique vocals where he sings over a lengthy piano melody. His voice is full, strong and incredibly expressive. There is just something in his timbre that makes up for any technical inefficiency he may possess. All of a sudden, the piece breaks into a full-blown prog rock piece as keys and swirls of jazz motifs are introduced to define the song, while a classic Spock's Beard type of guitar theme produces immortal melodies that go on and on until they segue into the following track "Another World", only to develop a stronger character and become more intense. Neal effectively delivers a repeated chorus in a capella style, while in the closing track things are executed completely differently. The same chorus doesn't kick in until the last two minutes because of a huge wall of sound created by a hybrid of symphonic rock, multi-track guitars (two of; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dreams of Men; Brand: Pallas; Review: It took Scottish neo-proggers Pallas four years to follow up their critically acclaimed The Cross & The Crucible. Apparently, the band wanted to take their time to develop their new songs as best as they could in order to reach the high level of standard they set with their previous release. The Dreams of Men is a competent successor in that it is laced with the band's universally accepted melodies, impressive guitar and keyboard interplay, beautiful vocal harmonies, and delicate song arrangements. The songs on the album are about the dreams of mankind, but I don't think there is a definite concept going on. The songs are independent, addressing different issues, but they also seem to have that dream theme underlying them. To give you a better idea what they are about, "Ghostdancers" seems to be a very mellow tune punctuated by a sad violin melody through its entirety. The violin generates a distinct Celtic feel and portrays Scottish people immigrating to the New World in order to find a better life. This is deftly delivered through a gripping chorus and rhythm guitar. It's about people leaving their homes and loved ones behind in hopes of starting a new life in a new country. However, it's far from a single point of view. The second half of the album gives us an insight into the mindsets of Native Americans, who are not only harassed by the white man, but also threatened and terribly violated. This is perfectly displayed by saddening Native American chant vocals at the end. There are two guitar solos on the song, both of which are emotionally engaging, but the second one is a bit more effective due to its immediate bluesy leanings. Likewise, "Messiah", one of the shorter songs, is a dig at control-freak political figures, Tony Blair in particular, but the commentary is very subtle and conveyed through a plethora of genres from funky guitar lines to Arena-like melodic hard rock (think Pepper's Ghost) and female back-up vocals. "Warriors" is another track whose message got me, focusing on the 9/11 tragedy but once again looking at it from a broader point of view and touching on the suicide bombings all around the world. This song also has a heavier guitar focus yet at the same time it's uncannily 80's Pallas during the middle point. I love how the smooth guitar notes virtually transform into cutting riffs in the end as well. With nearly half of the tracks breaking the 10-minute mark, The Dreams of Men is a long piece, clocking in at over 73 minutes. Though the album is quite mellow in most parts, it is also filled with subtle complexities, mostly in the drum and keyboard parts. "Too Close to the Sun", which must have been initially written on keys, is one of those ELP-like classics, featuring a killer bass start, lucid synths, interesting drum fills, and finally whispered vocals that beautifully harmonise with each other above minimal acoustic guitars. Strings, flutes and harps are also heard towards the middle before a quirky synth motif introduces; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Second Life Syndrome; Brand: Riverside; Review: After Riverside's amazing debut album Out of Myself was released, the band's vocalist and bassist Mariusz Duda made the following statement on their website: "We know that we're not discovering new lands in our playing, but we do hope that we're doing it our own way, and, sooner or later, we will work out our own distinctive style.". Well, judging by the music on their new release, also their InsideOut debut, Second Life Syndrome, it should be noted that they have achieved their goal to a great extent. Forget about the ever-present Opeth, Porcupine Tree, and later day Anathema references made regarding their first disc. Second Life Syndrome not only surpasses it, but it also presents a distinct Riverside sound that, despite some subtle influences, shows the band developing into a darker musical realm, while retaining the core stylistics of their debut album. From a lyrical point of view, Second Life Syndrome expands on the concept started with their first album, forming the middle chapter of the band's trilogy. The overall brooding tone is carried over and is often coterminous with the storyline in that the protagonist refreshes the listener's memory about his inner turmoils and psychological problems. The album begins with cathartic whispers by Duda where he briefly gives us an insight into his state of mind in his "second life". The song very slowly builds as brush drums are heard distantly together with a lucid keyboard line that blankets the whole song delicately before waves of guitar sounds emerge and repeat themselves until the second track "Volte-Face" kicks in. New keyboardist Michal Lapaj's style is rather different than the one who played on Out of Myself. Lapaj opts for a more textural statement, reaching certain atmospheres and mostly underlying the bass and guitar chords. He often builds complex textures, perhaps a bit reminiscent of Marillion's post-Brave period, in order to help portray the protagonist's restlessness. His contribution to the album has created an emotional sphere that thoroughly surrounds the album, pushing it into darker areas. As with the debut, the guitar work is exceptional. Most of the riffs and themes are repeated continuously until the band is sure the melodies have sunk in and absorbed the listener in their lachrymose churning. "Volte-Face" has a pretty long build-up, from steady 4/4 drum beats to melodic guitar and bass arpeggios, and then to more riff-oriented guitar tracks. Duda's vocals finally enter the song with smooth shifts between his traditional clean vocals and somewhat angrier or even semi-growled aggressive passages. Things quieten down with the arrival of a fine bass solo and psychedelic guitar lines that are then replaced by a pretty piano interlude and soft string arrangements. Finally, the drums speed up and the riffs become more structured as the song reaches its incensed resolution. By now the tone of the disc has been set and the musical direction defined. Duda's vocals on the melancholic ballad "Conceiving You" are emotive and expressive, and things hit atmospheric heights when Piotr Grudzinski lays down an elegiac guitar solo, showing incredible growth in his phrasing; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Virus; Brand: Hypocrisy; Review: Whether Virus is the best album of Hypocrisy will always be debatable, but there's no arguing that it is certainly an excellent disc that easily surpasses their last three albums. Into the Abyss was a good release actually, but it just seemed weak compared to their tremendous back catalog despite killer tracks in the form of "Blinded" and "Fire in the Sky". As for Catch 22, while still courageously defended by Tagtgren himself, it was a disappointing release in more than one way. With The Arrival, Hypocrisy tried to put themselves back on the right track, but the album also contained some mediocre moments. However, Virus sees them really functioning as a solid band with a great lineup, as new drummer Horgh (ex-Immortal) is aboard now together with Andreas Holma on second guitar. Horgh is a killer drummer. His speed-of-light beats are both intricate and dangerously brutal, while Holma on guitars brings the band a much-welcome dual guitar attack approach, and his solos are perfect as well. This album has plenty of solos that older Hypocrisy fans might have been looking for, and if that's the case, they're going to love it. A short intro segues into "Warpath", a song that is right up there with the best songs Peter Tagtgren and his friends have penned in their 15-year career. It is filled with ultra-heavy guitar rhythms that continuously change and reinvent themselves, and with the addition of Horgh's inhuman drum workout, this song should become a must for any live show in the future. Tagtgren sounds as aggressive and brutal as ever, certainly more pissed off than the last couple of discs, and he showcases a broad range of vocal styles from typical Tagtgren growls to terrifying blackened shrieks and even Opethian low growls. "Blooddrenched" is one of the more concise numbers, but Tagtgren's low voice is pulverizing and the fast, intricate guitar work on it is going to gain the band many a new fan. This Holma guy on guitars is a great addition to the mold. "Scrutinized" also features an infectious lead solo with lots of guitar and bass riffs surrounding it. On "Fearless" we have plenty of synth work, as things slow down for a moment, and melodic guitars take the lead while Tagtgren still sticks to his guns and spews out toxic high-pitched screams. Traces of blackened thrash are heard on "Let the Knife Do the Talking" and the multiple vocals on this track are really awesome. "A Thousand Lies" gives the listener some time to catch their breath; it's an acoustic song with both clean and death vocals and punishing guitar harmonies. The anthemic intro of "Incised Before I've Ceased" is one of the finest parts of Virus because of its maniacal drumming and Tagtgren's crazed screams. However, what really makes the song is the beautifully arranged classical intermezzo that slices through the whole track. It's great to see Hypocrisy still exploring new territory and managing to effortlessly blend them with their otherwise in-your-face type of aggression. "Compulsive Psychosis", a track littered with very complex instrumentation; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hideous Sun Demons; Brand: The Hideous Sun Demons; Review: The Hideous Sun Demons is a great instrumental trio formed by three of rock's most prolific and successful musicians. Ray Luzier on drums and James Lomenzo bass were also part of the DLR band when they decided to hook up with Japanese guitar virtuoso Toshi Hiketa in order to write a totally freeform jazz/fusion record that is unafraid to dive into southern rock, blues, and Latin as well. Given all three of them taught music at various schools including GIT and Osaka School of Music, their amazing chops should come as no surprise. Yet I still think it is fascinating to hear what these guys are capable of technically, since you've never heard James Lomenzo cutting it loose in his former bands White Lion, Slash's Snakepit or Black Label Society. Similarly, Ray Luzier shows everyone what an insanely talented drummer he is working the drums passionately and with ultimate perfection. From glistening jazzy cymbals to impressive polyrhythms, Luzier is a truly gifted musician and it's him who drives half of the songs. I've never heard any of Hiketa's albums before, but his playing on this eponymous release suggests he is a very fluid and articulate player with immense technique. "Elevation" is a short song that immediately introduces the trio's heavy fusion rock underpinning, packed with an accented bass bottom by Lomenzo and excellent sweeping. The Hideous Sun Demons' songs are heavy and melodic at the same time, marked by highly technical guitar licks thar border on rock, jazz, Latin and blues, always leaving enough space for the band's rhythmic drive. Luzier's drumming on "Rain" is so amazing that I can't remember being so impressed by a drummer in a long time. How a drummer can overplay so much without pushing the song out of its musical route is beyond me. This song also has great fusion bass arpeggios, stuff you'd normally expect to hear on a Niacin disc. On "Osaka Funk", guest player Chris Juergensen joins Toshi Hiketa in a slow yet very dynamic funk rock track that allows the bass and drums to shine gloriously. Hiketa reminds me a bit of a less playful Steve Vai, but he is also deeply rooted in a blues rock pattern and exhibits it on the more southern rock inspired tunes: the somewhat acoustic and slow "A New Day", the very brief full-on jazz "Demon's Blues" (except for its blues solo), and the wide-open jam session on "The Maze", with a heavy southern rock flavour. Besides its crazed jazz improvisation, this song is also highlighted by a terrific melodic drive and even some whistles that emulate the same melody. The bass-rich "Mosquito" also marries slow jazz elements with an intricate drum work and choppy guitar licks, while "S.O.C." stands out for its brilliant percussive beats. "Brainwashed" is a smoking fast fusion jam, featuring frantic guitar playing (again with a bluesy lead solo) and classic rock style immediacy. The trio also explores some New Age territory on "4 Seasons", a pretty acoustic piece driven by dreamy melodies and brush drums. The Hideous Sun Demons' debut album; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wall Street Voodoo; Brand: Roine Stolt; Review: If you are thinking of buying Wall Street Voodoo, the new solo album of Roine Stolt, you'd better forget about the countless prog monuments Stolt has created with his own band The Flower Kings or his side projects with Transatlantic, The Tangent, and even Kaipa. As clearly stated, this is a solo album and it's meant to differ from his progressive rock driven back catalog tremendously, as Stolt has stated many a time during the making of this album that Wall Street Voodoo was going to be a tribute to his earliest inspirations, mostly focusing on blues rock. It sure is interesting to discover Stolt's musical background and see him reaching back to his roots and finding every little element that made him pick up the guitar and make music. Although this is primarily a straight-up blues rock disc mostly emphasizing Stolt's guitar playing, some of the songs are also decorated with late-60's era political texts. With two discs and over 115 minutes of music, Wall Street Voodoo features only two of Stolt's band mates in The Flower Kings: Hasse Bruniusson on percussion and new drummer Marcus Liliequist who also played on Tomas Bodin's amazing I Am album earlier this year. The other musicians, however, are unknown at this point, as they seem to be using fake names due to contractual obligations. On bass, there is a guy called Victor Woof; while someone named Slim Pothead handles the piano, Hammond and keyboard duties. No worries though, they both do a mighty job on the album, especially given this isn't one of those discs where excellent instrumental ability is required. Not to imply they couldn't pull off more challenging tasks, but it just seems they are a great fit for Stolt's material on hand. Also, there is another musician called Gonzo Geffen credited as the percussionist also responsible for 'loop treatments'. Finally, we have a great guest on the disc, Stolt's band mate in Transatlantic and the former Spock's Beard songwriter: Neal Morse. Morse not only contributes a good deal of vocal lines, but he also plays his unique Hammond solos on more than a few cuts. Seeing as they are all heavily blues inspired, the songs are hard to tell apart in most parts. That said, some of them do stand out with interesting traits, be it melody, arrangement, vocals, or simply guitar and Hammond solos. The first disc decidedly has a more unified nature, as it isn't as experimental and quirky as the second one. It begins with the 11-minute "The Observer" which has a great wah guitar section with harmony vocals that lead into the relatively more upbeat and funky piece "Head Above Water". One of my favourites on the album, this song is more concise (and therefore more effective) and features an extended guitar and Hammond interplay where both Stolt and Morse create magic. Arguably, the longer songs can be a bit monotonous, given they stick to Stolt's love for 60's blues and cause the album to lose some of its momentum. Whereas the shorter, and by short I'm; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dead Word; Brand: Dead Soul Tribe; Review: Dead Soul Tribe continues to put out albums on a yearly basis ever since their A Murder of Crows masterwork came out in 2003. With The January Tree, in my opinion, Devon Graves not only released his best work, but he also proved himself as an exceptional poet with excellent ability in songwriting and production. Together with drummer Adel Moustafa, they wrote and recorded one of the finest releases of the year. So after a year, The Dead Word comes out, marking the release of the band's fourth album. And needless to say, it carries Graves' unique sound all over it. As Devon Graves himself stated, The Dead Word is the fastest album recording he has achieved in his career. Written, arranged, recorded and mixed in only one month, perhaps in order to meet contractual obligations that say one album every year, this is perhaps Graves' most solo work to date, excluding the eponymous debut album. While still solid and in no way disappointing, from a musical standpoint, The Dead Word seems a bit rushed, often ending up like a sequel to the band's previous album. The opening song, kicking in after the atmospheric intro "Prelude: Time and Pressure", is almost identical in structure and dynamics to the first track of The January Tree, "Spiders and Flies". Its slow yet effective start takes on a good drum and bass rhythmic support where Devon sings in his expressive whispered tone, before the song explodes into a catchy vocal melody eerily similar to the aforementioned track. Secret Tool riffs and remarkable drum fills establish the classic Dead Soul Tribe sound as Devon shifts to a more aggressive vocal style (now that's something new compared to his other albums) and finishes the tune with a quite angry tone. Strangely, most things you hear on The Dead Word sound like you've heard them before, and they seem to be reproduced with little touches of variation. Furthermore, with the exception of a few tunes, most of these songs are bass and drum-rich with restrained inclusion of Devon's flute and piano playing, as well as rhythm and lead guitar. I am inclined to believe Devon actually plays all instruments on this album, except drums, and his main focus is obviously the bass. Adel Moustafa often plays his amazing drums in impressive harmony with Devon's bass lines, adding in some intricate fills along the way. Apart from the complex piece "Waiting in Line", which is the first song they recorded together, the album is minimalistic and less ornate . This song has a great groove, shimmering cymbal taps, flute sounds, and a relatively more challenging chorus. Though not a revolutionary cut, overall it's on par with the best stuff on The January Tree. According to the information on their website, this track took a while to complete in the studio. I've been wondering if that's why they decided to go for a simpler and less busy style on most of the other songs. The multiple vocal harmonies-laden and epic tracks like "A Fistful of Bended Nails" and "The Long; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: God the Lux; Brand: Vesania; Review: With members from Poland's greatest extreme bands Vader and Behemoth, namely Orion on guitars and vocals and Daray on drums, Vesania's second album is a good example of symphonic black metal. Although more noticeable on their debut, their music is still undeniably influenced by Emperor, both in the way the keyboards are used and its almost mechanical production. Orion's vocals are more like death growls rather than screamed black metal shrieks though. He sounds a bit like Shagrath from Dimmu Borgir as he opts for a rough, gravelly delivery. And when the music is decorated with elaborate synth lines, as on "Fireclipse", marked by very heavy riffs, the comparisons are inevitable. Likewise, "Synchroscheme" features luscious keyboards contrasted by brutal vocals and an Emperor-like song pattern. As much as Napalm Records may claim otherwise, Vesania isn't breaking new ground. However, they certainly are a good band in the way that they know songs can use all kinds of variation in rhythm and tempo. Rather than playing stupidly fast guitar licks and incessant double bass drums, drummer Daray certainly incorporates his death metal background in the mix with awesome cymbal hopping on the tremelo-picked "Rest in Pain", a song defined by a fierce rhythmic anchor, melodic breaks, and symphonic sounds. At the end of the song, however, Daray reaches his ultimate apex as his playing matches the speed of a steam engine. Aside from the blast beat-ridden drums, the guitar work alternates between slow, menacing riffage to ultra-heavy and crushing tones. Also, three out of twelve songs are interspersed between the tracks to help diversify God the Lux, as they are short instrumental pieces where keyboardist Siegmar from Hasperos lays down some delicate orchestration similar to the stuff heard on Limbonic Arts' records. He plays effect-laden passages of atmosphere with an added breadth to the sound. Gothic darkness, male and female voiceovers, a deliberately bad mix all unite in perfect harmony by the time the following song kicks in. "Phosphorror" opens up with sweet synth tones before it veers into Vesania's classic Emperor meets Dimmu Borgir trademark, but halfway through, the song is broken down into segments of orchestral soundscapes with easy shifts in harmony. This might be the most original thing on the album. One thing I can't understand is why they decided to put a 25-minute track as the album closer of which 24 minutes are total silence. If this was an attempt to create tension or atmosphere, I'm much of the opinion that Vesania should leave these kinds of things up to the gods like Ulver and Agalloch. Vesania is better off playing old school black metal with modern production and intricate instrumentation in my opinion. Granted it's far from any Behemoth or Vader album, God the Lux is still a fine piece of work. With both bands' heavy touring and recording schedules, we should give both Orion and Daray credit as they still find the time to carry on with this project.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pain Necessary to Know; Brand: Ephel Duath; Review: If you were surprised by the originality of The Painter's Palette, Ephel Duath's previous release, wait until you give their new platter a full listen. This is a mindblowing and incredibly well crafted album. Davide Tiso has put together a new disc that is at times deliberately pretentious yet everything is so meticulously expressed and performed that there is nothing to complain about. From the schizophrenic mood prevalant on the entire album to the dark and swift song arrangements, Pain Necessary to Know is a very powerful statement that treads the dangerous line between fluid jazz and skull-crushing metal. Though there are fewer brass instruments this time around, the band's jazz explorations go far deeper utilising every element the genre has to offer and blending them together with the band's trademark scream vocal ferocity and avant-garde approach. As its predecessor, the new album is also a disc that could be likened to Mr Bungle, Zappa, and John Zorn. The music presented here is still very spontaneous and littered with ever-changing drum and bass patterns. Furthermore, there is an evident Dillinger Escape Plan touch prevalent that renders Pain Necessary to Know even more immediate and aggressive. The amount of clean vocals has noticeably decreased; actually they would be almost nonexistent had it not been for "I Killed Rebecca", a jazz drum charged piece with siren-like wailing guitars, harrowing whispers during a dark acoustic passage that precedes a very cluttered and multi-layered instrumental section. The song even has some industrial tendencies offered in small segments - incredibly experimental to say the least. All songs are punctuated with a cold, desolate atmosphere; the churning guitar chords quickly develop into explosive walls of sound along with a drummer that is exceptionally talented when it comes to filling the songs with crashing cymbal sounds and remarkable polyrhythms. It's a shame that Davide Piovesan has decided to leave the band after recording his parts. Let's hope the guys find a competent replacement, however unlikely it seems at this point. The bass guitars on the album are equally compelling. From the blasting bass attack on the oddly guitar-tuned "Vector, Third Movement" to the ever-present funky lines on "Pleonasm", Fabio Fecchio has truly outdone himself. He is showcasing every aspecting of his abilities, and has a great ear for arrangement as no single note is wasted or comes off excessive. Always in perfect harmony with the drums, he knows when to show restraint or dive into a frenzied instrumental section that, despite its overly challenging nature, sounds more palatable than his prior works. Needless to say, the main man behind Ephel Duath, guitarist Davide Tiso, makes his presence felt all over the album. Tiso fuses some of the songs with weird guitar tunings and effects but disguises them with subtle synth layers or a blare of brass instruments. He doesn't necessarily explore long, drawn-out guitar solos; he is more forthright this time. Yet, he never fails to inject each and every song with bizarre timings and odd rhythmic groupings, drawing from a vast Zappa library along the way. The eerie; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A New Dawn For The Dead; Brand: Gorerotted; Review: United Kingdom's gore metallers Gorerotted seem to be in decline ever since they lost Mr Gore, their second vocalist. His duties are now being handled by The Wilson who is credited as the man responsible for swilling and swearing in the booklet. Unfortunately, after listening to A New Dawn for the Dead, it is evident that the departure of Mr Gore hasn't just resulted in a simple lineup change, but it has also drastically affected the originality and songwriting of the band. Anything you may have heard and liked on their earlier releases is either gone or replaced with more mundane elements. Obviously, the title of the new album, besides making a reference to classic horror films, also suggests that this is "a new dawn" for the band themselves. If that's the case, the band may consider re-thinking their decison. This album is considerably simpler in structure. The songs are more predictable as they are pretty straightforward, both in terms of instrumentation and writing-wise. The layered, complex songs have been scratched and replaced by more jumbled compositions which often suggest a mandatory trade-off between the two vocalists, Ben Goreskin and The Wilson (why some band members refuse to use their own names and go for cheesy pseudonyms is also beyond me - if they think it makes them seem cool, it certainly doesn't). Goreskin provides the low grunts and deep growls while Wilson is more on the snarling, black metal type of vocalists spewing words of venom. This reminds me a bit of the amazing Portuguese band The Firstborn, except that The Firstborn has one singer who can handle both the growls and shrieks and their songs are ultra-complex pieces littered with Nile-like exotic scales and mind-bending technicality. That said, Gorerotted does try to incorporate some more Middle Eastern motifs in their craft, but because of the paper-thin drum sound, little of what was intended is achieved. The drum tone of Junko has got to be the weakest and most lifeless drum tone I've heard on any death/grind album. It is flat and has no dynamics, despite the fact that Junko actually is a good drummer. Moreover, his blastbeats are almost inaudible, buried amidst chunks of recycled guitar riffs that are sometimes overtly repeated within the same songs. Thoughts of Carcass arise while listening to this album which clocks in at over half an hour and is comprised of 2-minute tracks. One exception being "Selection and Dissection of Parts for Resurrection", the last song, as it has a running time of 9 minutes, but then the last three minutes of it are pure silence. This kind of attitude has been so done so much that it's got to the point of overkill. What's worse is bands who have no concept of atmosphere and mood in their music opt for this "cop-out", thinking if they also do it, some people may actually fall for it. Sorry, it just makes the music more boring and pointless. This is not to say I don't "get" technical death metal or grind. As a matter of fact,; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Starfall; Brand: Dragonland; Review: Starfall is the third studio album of Swedish power metal band Dragonland, mainly led by guitarist Olof Morck and keyboardist Elias Holmlid who are backed up four other great musicians. Produced by Evergrey mastermind Tom Englund, the album falls in the classic Euro power metal style with considerable melodic metal and even AOR influences. Bands like Sonata Arctica, earlier Angra, Rhapsody, and even Europe all pop in in your mind while listening to this disc, which is basically very synth and guitar driven. It heavily focuses on melody and a typical Euro power metal singer named Jonas Heidgert. Besides the classic vocal stylings of the genre, Heidgert also uses more pop-oriented vocals, best explored on the short yet powerful title track. Beginning with AOR-like synth harmonies, the song takes on a very gripping mood the moment Heidgert enters it, but swiftly segues into a more classical-inspired piano passage and a somewhat atmospheric breakdown that allows the keys to take the lead. Ironically, things take a 180 turn with the following track "Calling My Name", perhaps most akin to the songs on Evergrey's The Inner Circle album, dealing with a relatively darker theme and featuring a good dose of Charles Manson type of spoken lyrics (hence the Evergrey similarity) along with traditional power metal singing. Tom Englund himself graces this tune with a mighty guitar solo that is immediately followed by a searing synth lead. Also, Englund does some lead vocals on this track, but they're quite different from his throaty, almost menacing style in Evergrey. Guitarists Nicklas Magnusson and Olof Morck's guitar tone on "In Perfect Harmony" reminds me of the silky-smooth playing of Magnus Karlsson on both Last Tribe records and the recent Allen/Lande project. Neither Magnusson nor Morck opt for ultra-fast, technically challenging playing, though that's not to say they are unable to play that way. It's just they like to showcase a more restrained type of performance, trying to feed the songs with what they need, rather than boosting their own egos. Quite a few of the songs on this album are filled with well-played, expressive leads, such as "The Shores of Our Land", also featuring Evergrey's Henrik Danhage as a guest. Starting out as a very cliche happy-go power metal anthem, the piece abruptly breaks into a mesmerizing synth solo, picks up some beautiful female vocals, and then hammers back into a soaring twin guitar harmony. It's really well written and played. On the other hand, "The Returning" is a very straightforward power metal track with fast double bass drums, sweeping synths, and incredible tapping melodies on the guitar. However, as the album proceeds, it seems to slightly suffer from being way too predictable considering the potential these musicians and Tom Englund have. For a third release, they could have tried to be a bit more original. Considering the last three tracks on Starfall, comprising the "The Book of Shadows" trilogy, this band no doubt could explore a more experimental, and perhaps darker too, songwriting. It begins with a brief instrumental piece where Holmlid's synths produce ethereal melodies; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dieversity; Brand: Entwine; Review: Finnish gothic rockers Entwine have come a long way since their inception. With their fourth studio effort Dieversity, they seem to have settled for a more commercial and radio-friendly songwriting formula which has garnered them plenty of reviews where they were likened to HIM, one of the biggest gothic pop bands from Finland. While I don't quite agree with this comparison, Entwine now definitely does opt for a catchier and more straightforward approach in their songs. The album is littered with plenty of electronic arrangements that feature both programmed and real drum beats, catchy melodic interludes, and gothic pop vocals by Mike Tauriainen. Although Tauriainen isn't as catchy as, say the singers of HIM or Rasmus, he is certainly getting there. At the same time, he still has the trademark Finnish vocal style that evokes the melancholic band Charon on the piano ballad "Frozen by the Sun". Dense piano notes are surrounded by atmospheric guitar and keyboard sounds while the singer delivers lyrics of sorrow, as expected. Similarly, the band reminds me of later day Sentenced on "Bitter Sweet", save for its electronic keyboard sequencing. It's mostly the way the vocal melodies are sung and arranged, I suppose. Moreover, Entwine comes across as a much more layered and textured band than most other goth rock acts, as the song combines elements of pop, ambiance, and melodic metal at the same time. The focus is on the smooth keyboard lines that interact with despondent acoustic guitars which underlie Tauriainen's gripping vocal melodies. These nuances will come out after a couple of spins though. Most other songs fall into the same writing style, which emphasizes sad vocal lines and keyboard-heavy melodies. The guitars are there to add colour rather than actually drive the songs. However, what differentiates Entwine from many other Finnish goth bands is their crunch-filled guitar riffs that are ever-present in all of their songs. This has obviously resulted in a heavier album. Also, two of the songs feature great guitar solos, the one on "Refill My Soul" being one of those overtly 80's inspired rock solos. Another piece that stands out is the very depressive "Everything for You", another love song with a beautifully grey piano melody. The album closes with the atmospheric instrumental "Lost Within", which is just sparse keyboards marked by flickering guitar arpeggios. Actually I also detect some hidden violin and cello in this one. Travis Smith's artwork and CD layout is awesome. This is one of his most different works to date. I was rather surprised to see his name in the credits, considering his trademark style on Katatonia and Opeth albums. Also, kudos goes to the amazing production and mixing job on Dieversity. This album will appeal to fans of To/Die/For, Poisonblack, Charon, and perhaps even Sentenced. I will not mention the HIM similarity because it's being overdone these days. HIM could only dream of having so much crunch in their music.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Razorbliss; Brand: Flowing Tears; Review: Germany's Flowing Tears' new album Razorbliss sees them going for a change in the vocal department, replacing the highly popular Stefanie Duchene with another female singer, Helen Vogt. Without doubt, Vogt is a competent vocalist with a lot of charisma and a great voice that fits the relatively more updated and somewhat mainstream sound of Razorbliss. The songs of the band are still as inspirational and moving as ever, but perhaps a bit more polished and aiming for a more mainstream market this time. However, to make up for the commercial attitude, Benjamin Buss plays some of his heaviest and thickest guitar chords to date, matching the ethereal programmed synths and the occasional electronic rhythm work, and providing the album with a edgy rock sound throughout. Most of the songs are successfully balanced between electronic samples and heavy guitar parts with Vogt's vocals layered on top of them all. Filled with huge melodies, large chunks of guitar riffs, varied keyboard patches, and even oriental signatures, the title track does a great job introducing the songs on the album, as each following track pretty much expands on these musical ideas, except being less busy and more to the point. Very brief Floydian (or should I say later day Tiamat-style textures?) atmospheres start "Bleed", one of the songs where former Angel Dust vocalist Dirk Thurish guests and exchanges verses with Vogt. The chemistry between the singers is sublime; Thurish' deep yet angry voice contrasts Vogt's more confident and laid-back lamenting. It's a great song with beautiful synths and electronic parameters underlying gothic rock's heaviest guitar parts. Often repeated guitar licks and sprinkled keyboards accentuate the dark "Undying", featuring both silent, whisper-like vocals and a catchy modern rock chorus, all with a very focused bass bottom. The electronic pop on "Radium Angel" and the dreamy yet heavily guitar-driven "Firedream" help diversify the release before the calmer, more piano-induced melodic rock number "Ballad of a Lonely God" kicks in and concludes with a driven, frantic guitar solo, unlike most songs gothic rock bands' songs nowadays. If Flowing Tears had gone for a more defined direction of this type, they could have offered a much-needed breath of fresh air into this genre, which is obviously getting more stale day by day. The following songs pretty much continue in the same way, except that they are more minimalistic, as on the moody "Snakes of Grey" or the Egyptian-themed "Maladine", a song featuring a traditional Arabic string instrument and Vogt's sorrow-filled, irresistible vocals. Recorded, mixed and mastered by noted producer Waldemar Sorchyta, Razorbliss is a sonic joy to listen. The loud-loud-loud approach of Sorchyta seems to have worked well on this type of songs. This is a fairly good album, but considering Flowing Tears' potential, it could have been more original.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blueprint of the World; Brand: Enchant; Review: Perhaps Enchant's A Blueprint of the World is not only their best album, but also one of the finest prog rock debuts released in the 90's. Although they have matured and improved both musically and technically over the years, the songs on their debut are some of their warmest and most sincere offerings to date. It's not often you can get the mighty Steve Rothery of Marillion to produce almost half of the tracks on your debut release and even get him to contribute some guitar and e-bow playing. Had Rothery not seen the magic in these guys, I doubt he'd have bothered helping them out. His presence is without doubt central to the success of this album, as the songs are replete with melodic hooks, moving vocal lines, and excellent instrumentation to boot. On the opening track "The Thirst", Rothery weaves Marillion-like texture playing an immense e-bow melody, and the band opts for an intricate drum pattern and then lets vocalist Ted Leonard leave his signature imprint on the piece. Leonard has always reminded me of the amazing Steve Walsh and Journey's Steve Perry, but similarities to the vocal harmonies on earlier Styx albums are also evident. He has a warm and emotionally engaging voice that will immediately resonate with any prog rock fan and capture him after only a few listens. Drummer Paul Craddick's involvement in the songs has rendered them a very Rush-like intricacy that has resulted in Enchant being compared to the Canadian prog gods for years. Craddick fills almost every song with nuanced rhythms that actually have a profound effect in the songwriting, since each fill and roll from him helps diversify the album and make everything more progressive. Glistening cymbals, complex multi-rhythm beats, and even percussive sections abound the songs while guitarist Douglas Ott produces thick and ethereal lead solos that underlie Michael Geimer's dreamy yet at the same time insanely emphasized keyboard work. Ott has a large and elaborate playing, and is quite possibly one of the most expressive guitarists in American prog rock. Besides his sumblime chord progressions, which change from lush acoustics to dynamic electric leads, it is mostly the way he chooses to finish his solos. The ending riffs on both the dark-tinged "Catharsis" and the acoustic ballad "Acquaintance" suggest intensity of the highest order. While most guitarists in the genre either overplay or run out of ideas in their solos, it seems Ott only climaxes in his final note leaving the listener's jaw wide open. What's more is he also possesses a great sense of immediacy in his phrasing, giving the songs an almost live feel, best seen on the fast-paced and hard-rocking "East of Eden", which sounds like Alex Lifeson cutting it loose in an overcrowded Rush concert. This song also features a fantastic bass solo by Ed Platt whose restrained yet ever-present input explodes like a dynamite halfway through the piece. "Oasis", now one of Enchant's most classic anthems, is catchy, rocking, and utterly progressive at the same time, and demonstrates a breathtaking duel between fierce guitars and striking; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Journey; Brand: Journey; Review: Although America's melodic hard rock band Journey is most popular with their multi-hit producing Steve Perry era, the band actually started a lot earlier than Perry joined them. Formed by two former Santana members, Gregg Rolie on keyboards and vocals and Neal Schon on guitars, this amazing band actually captured a very nice progressive rock sound on their debut album. Though the following Gregg Rolie era records also had progressive elements, their self-titled release may be their most fusion-inspired release with amazing synth and organ sounds, killer dual lead guitars, and a fantastic rhythm duo. Joining Rolie and Schon are drummer Aynsley Dunbar (also of Fank Zappa, Jeff Beck and Sammy Hagar fame), bassist Ross Valory and second guitarist George Tickner. This is also the only Journey release with Tickner on second guitar, as he decided to leave the music business after recording the album. Actually I'm of the opinion that Tickner and Gregg Rolie may have been huge factors in taking on a progressive songwriting attitude on this disc, since the band slowly departed from this approach on their following releases. Tickner not only supports the amazing Neal Schon, laying down choppy lead work, but he also wrote the instrumental track "Topaz", punctuated by deft acoustic passages and big synth washes. Gregg Rolie's organ sounds are huge, but he always gives Ross Valory enough space to provide a full bass bottom and drummer Dunbar to add some sick polyrhythms akin to his work on the earlier Zappa albums. The band delves into a mesmerizing jam session towards the end delivering fluctuating rhythms, awesome cymbal sounds, and a full-fledged keyboard lead. On "Of A Lifetime", Rolie introduces his trademark organ sound where he experiments with almost psychedelic soundscapes that would even surprise the biggest Eloy fans, but it is Neal Schon's unique sense of melody and phrasing on the guitar where no element overtreads each other. On this song, he goes from slowly building arpeggios to jaw-dropping whammy bar usage and finally fierce lead soloing as he is eventually joined by George Tickner for a full-on guitar attack in the outro. The other instrumental "Kohoutek" starts out as a moving piano ballad before gloomy guitar chords are thrown into the mix as pounding drum beats are heard and suddenly the listener is caught amidst madly wailing twin guitar harmonies, Moog sounds, jumping bass lines before things calm down and the piece concludes with a nifty piano melody, almost the same way it started. Among all these fusion-styled compositions are also shorter synth-pop tunes like "To Play Some Music" (which yet closes with another fusion solo) and the somewhat bluesy ballad combo "In My Lonely Feeling / Conversations", two songs that are merged into a single framework. The first part is hook-laden and melody-friendly displaying a beautiful vocal performance by Rolie, while "Conversations" is an all instrumental cut filled with rich bass and keyboard textures. Unlike the Perry era, the Gregg Rolie albums all retain a characteristic prog vibe while still aiming at a more mainstream direction. In this respect, Journey might quite; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The First Chapter; Brand: Circus Maximus; Review: I wish some prog listeners could look past bands' influences. Yes, Circus Maximus is heavily influenced by Dream Theater, but why does everyone make such a big deal of it? I've had this disc for over seven months now and each successive listen proved to be more rewarding. This is a fantastic debut from a young Norwegian band. It encompasses a wide variety of styles but always keeps them within the boundaries of melodic progressive metal. Vocalist Michael Eriksen is the type of singer every prog metal band would want to have. He has excellent range and killer phrasing. Sometimes I have to think of Geoff Tate circa Operation: Mindcrime, sometimes the amazing Tony Harnell from TNT, and even some AOR vocalists, but one thing remains: Eriksen sings everything with a heavy melodic focus and delivers amazing vocal harmonies throughout. Starting with one of the best album opener's of 2005, "Sin", he belts out jawdropping screams, impressive double vocals, and classic hard rock type of harmonies, whilst the band behind him produce some of the best composed riffs and melodies you'll ever find on a first album. The end of the song is highlighted by a frenetic interplay where every member gets his part to impress the listener. Central to the album are the keyboards played by Espen Stovo who has unfortunately left the band recently. Stovo provides an array of different sounds and tones, ranging from symphonic synth elements on "Alive" (he also duels wildly with guitarist Mats Haugen at the end) to majestic piano interludes and lots of 70's prog rock organs. On "The Prophecy" the band combines lush acoustic guitars with solemn piano and then abruptly breaks into a riff-laden prog number that is eventually underlied by a beautiful symphonic backdrop utilising a brief analog synth solo along the way. Likewise, the 19-minute title track features a delicately arranged keyboard orchestration in its slowly building intro before the Haugen brothers go into a thrash-inspired instrumental pasage with syncopated drum and guitar accents. Joined by thick bass rhythms, the three players dabble with a killer tech metal experimentation before they suddenly cut out lest Espen Stovo can offer a pretty synth lead akin to those on Flower Kings albums. Because this is a long song and the closing solo by Mats Hauglen is slighly neoclassical, "The 1st Chapter" has been labeled as a Symphony X clone by some, and while I can hear similarities, that's where the comparisons end as far as I'm concerned. Inspired by Roman history, "Glory of the Empire" is another lengthy tune conjuring up images of fierce battles, and displaying Michael Eriksen's most versatile performance. On this song, Eriksen first sounds like an 80's AOR singer during the folky synth lines in the intro before he shows us his Tate-like upper register vocals. The band's instrumental prowess is best presented on the complex "Why Am I Here", a song that I assume must be quite hard to pull off live. The chemistry between the guitars and drums, and the very heavy bass walk, all occasionally backed; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Imagine; Brand: Stride; Review: Remember the first three Journey albums (between 1975 and 1977) with Gregg Rolie on vocals? They were a great melodic prog rock band then with awesome keyboards and fusion-inspired guitar work. Though they were mainly focusing on complex and impressive instrumental work, they also knew how to write melodic choruses. Such is the case with Stride's second album Imagine. Now with a vocalist, the band have retained their head-spinning instrumentation, but there is also plenty of room for excellent harmonies and the powerful vocals of Gary Belin. Gary Belin's voice is a cross between Steve Walsh of Kansas, Steve Perry of Journey, and perhaps Jon Anderson of Yes. He sings with complete power and perfect pitch, opting for both crystal clear harmonies and angrier, more pronounced vocal stylings. He is one of the most expressive singers I've heard in prog metal in recent years. At times his enunciation evokes Enchant's Ted Leonard in the way he knows when to take the lead of the song and when to let the other members shine. Actually, Stride could be likened to Enchant on a higher scale as well. Similarly, the guys in Stride are also excellent musicians with tremendous technique, but they never sacrifice melody and are most interested in penning solid, cohesive songs. Perhaps that's what makes Imagine so amazing. However, when the moment calls for it, they will also break loose and sweep you away with outstanding instrumental passages, all subtly injected into the songcraft. Almost all songs start out with majestic keyboards played by Rick Flores, who deserves a special mention. This guy is insanely talented and can play anything from AOR synths to uber-complex solos to 70's Moog stuff. "Alive" exhibits an intense interplay between Rick Flores and guitarist Joel Gregoire, who is also an excellent player. His soloing is always restrained and full of melodic hooks. Besides beautiful harmonies, he also goes for circular lead work. And guess what? His tone is absolutely beautiful. His rhythms are crunchy, always in diametric opposite to Flores' angelic piano or keyboard melodies. One of the most interesting tracks is "Role Model". It starts out rather differently than the other pieces. It is also longer and quite atmospheric. Characterized by creepy textures and an almost cinematic vibe, the band suddenly delves into one of their most complex and attention-demanding instrumental moments until a soothing piano break is introduced, emphasizing Belin's passionate vocal melodies. All the while, the cinematic vibe is retained, as traces of indecipherable spoken voices continue in the background. Come to think of it, the layered production of this disc is stunning. "Face the Day", my personal favourite, marks the band's heaviest songwriting to date. For a change, it begins with a low bass lead and leads into a dreamy and almost poppy Steve Perry type of harmony draped over sparse piano notes. Fans of Journey, particularly those who miss the earlier Perry albums, would love this track, if not the whole album. All of a sudden, the relaxing and toned down vocals of Belin erupt like a volcano and form; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Synchestra; Brand: Devin Townsend; Review: Synchestra is by far Devin Townsend's most varied work to date. It is underscored with every single trait that makes his music so unique and his artistic expressions so powerful. The album is characterized by complex guitar work, creative mixing, densely nuanced rhythmic anchor, and Devin's unmatched vocals. Stylistically, Synchestra seems like a combination of the production of Terria and the quirkiness of Infinity. Musically, however, it's a completely different piece of work, emphasized by Devin's two diametrically opposite approaches to songwriting. As you might know, Synchestra is supposed to be the antithesis to Strapping Young Lad's last album Alien. That said, the album is neither as SYL-influenced as Physicist nor as atmospheric as, say, Ocean Machine. It does present an alternative to the Alien track "Possessions" in the form of "The Baby Song", which basically addresses the responsibility required if you want to have children. Its poppy, big chorus that repeats, "Why don't you have a baby? / Why don't you have a child?" becomes utterly engaging and sticks to your mind for days on end. With great dynamics and a big symphonic backdrop underlying it, the song then morphs into a textured number with awesome piano and concludes with a mercilessly heavy and fast outro section. Contrary to this catchy piece, the album has a slower, almost dramatic start. Beautiful acoustic segments on "Let It Roll" segue into the earthy tones of "Hypergeek", a track reminiscent of Terria, with lots of roosters, frogs and birds humming in the background, amidst insanely heavy, rapid-fire machine-gun riffery and plodding kick drums. The band wastes no time achieving that huge wall-of-sound vibe synonymous with any Devin Townsend work, be it solo stuff or Strapping Young Lad. Now with two brief tracks, the atmosphere is set and the colour of Synchestra defined. The first real track, "Triumph", kicks off with soaring melodies, great drumming, both clean and harsh vocals, awesome keyboards, until its first breaking point in the middle - a country type of acoustic jam will surprise many, including the biggest Devin Townsend fans, but the song then goes back to where it started, only to be interrupted by a dreamy guitar solo by Steve Vai. The brief hook-laden "Vampolka" is busy with phenomenal bass (fretless?), some classical influences, raging organ, and awesome percussion. The piece immediately leads into its counterpart "Vampira", where Devin's vocals are so unusual and off-the-wall that I had to think of Infinity. His singing is catchy, yet at the same time very aggressive. This track would be a killer choice for a live performance, considering those "hey, hey" chants at the end. "Mental Tan" is a nice keyboard instrumental that once again brings to mind the more peaceful moments on Terria. It is followed by two of the album's most progressive offerings. "Gaia" (which was originally titled "Nail Broth") has a steady rhythm guitar throughout its six minute duration and features Devin singing in both gentle and growled styles. The piece then makes a foray into a challenging unison lead where each member finds the opportunity to display; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Synchestra; Brand: Devin Townsend; Review: Synchestra is by far Devin Townsend's most varied work to date. It is underscored with every single trait that makes his music so unique and his artistic expressions so powerful. The album is characterized by complex guitar work, creative mixing, densely nuanced rhythmic anchor, and Devin's unmatched vocals. Stylistically, Synchestra seems like a combination of the production of Terria and the quirkiness of Infinity. Musically, however, it's a completely different piece of work, emphasized by Devin's two diametrically opposite approaches to songwriting. As you might know, Synchestra is supposed to be the antithesis to Strapping Young Lad's last album Alien. That said, the album is neither as SYL-influenced as Physicist nor as atmospheric as, say, Ocean Machine. It does present an alternative to the Alien track "Possessions" in the form of "The Baby Song", which basically addresses the responsibility required if you want to have children. Its poppy, big chorus that repeats, "Why don't you have a baby? / Why don't you have a child?" becomes utterly engaging and sticks to your mind for days on end. With great dynamics and a big symphonic backdrop underlying it, the song then morphs into a textured number with awesome piano and concludes with a mercilessly heavy and fast outro section. Contrary to this catchy piece, the album has a slower, almost dramatic start. Beautiful acoustic segments on "Let It Roll" segue into the earthy tones of "Hypergeek", a track reminiscent of Terria, with lots of roosters, frogs and birds humming in the background, amidst insanely heavy, rapid-fire machine-gun riffery and plodding kick drums. The band wastes no time achieving that huge wall-of-sound vibe synonymous with any Devin Townsend work, be it solo stuff or Strapping Young Lad. Now with two brief tracks, the atmosphere is set and the colour of Synchestra defined. The first real track, "Triumph", kicks off with soaring melodies, great drumming, both clean and harsh vocals, awesome keyboards, until its first breaking point in the middle - a country type of acoustic jam will surprise many, including the biggest Devin Townsend fans, but the song then goes back to where it started, only to be interrupted by a dreamy guitar solo by Steve Vai. The brief hook-laden "Vampolka" is busy with phenomenal bass (fretless?), some classical influences, raging organ, and awesome percussion. The piece immediately leads into its counterpart "Vampira", where Devin's vocals are so unusual and off-the-wall that I had to think of Infinity. His singing is catchy, yet at the same time very aggressive. This track would be a killer choice for a live performance, considering those "hey, hey" chants at the end. "Mental Tan" is a nice keyboard instrumental that once again brings to mind the more peaceful moments on Terria. It is followed by two of the album's most progressive offerings. "Gaia" (which was originally titled "Nail Broth") has a steady rhythm guitar throughout its six minute duration and features Devin singing in both gentle and growled styles. The piece then makes a foray into a challenging unison lead where each member finds the opportunity to display; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nosferatu; Brand: Bloodbound; Review: Although it would be too early to say yet, Bloodbound may quite possibly end up being the best newcomer of 2006. Formed by Swedish blood brothers Tomas Olsson on guitars and Fredrik Bergh on keys and bass, Bloodbound quickly became a complete band with the addition of talented drummer Oskar Belin and the unique vocalist Urban Breed, who recently departed Tad Morose after being with them for nearly a decade. Way back in 2000, when Tad Morose released their second album with Breed on vocals, Undead, I thought it was the first power metal disc in years that really excited me. It was totally new and fresh, not just for the band but the whole power metal genre. As years passed, Tad Morose continued to put out quality albums, but unfortunately they chose to to expand on the sound they'd created with Undead rather than exploring more adventurous areas. Now, after all these years, there is another band, again with Urban Breed behind the mic. I am absolutely awe-struck by this guy's vocal performance on this album. His unmatched range, limitless power and unique tone are all perfectly united on Nosferatu and Breed does a killer job singing the songs mostly written by Bergh and Olsson. The duo exhibits intense songwriting ability on all eleven tracks, experimenting with elements of heavy metal, melodic metal and Euro power metal. It is hard to imagine anyone who likes these types of music being disappointed with Nosferatu. The arrangements are amazing, the guitar tone is rich and Bergh's bass sound is crushingly dense. Keyboards aren't too high in the mix, nor are they excessively used. But on songs like "Desdemonamelia", they play a vital role during the intro underpinning Bergh's masterful bass work. Fans of Breed era Tad Morose are going to drool when they hear this and the more traditional heavy metal anthem "Crucified", a song that moves from thrashy power metal to relentless speed riffing and classically inspired guitar soloing. Tomas Olsson also opts for somewhat classical sweep arpeggios on "Midnight Sun" before he makes a swift foray into a killer unison lead with Bergh and Belin. His playing is smooth and he has a crystal clear guitar tone that could be likened to Magnus Karlsson's work on the Allen/Lande project, and when he goes for the classical stuff with Breed laying down his amazing voice, I couldn't help but think what it would be like if Urban Breed were to sing on a future Yngwie Malmsteen disc. I believe it could work both ways as he would finally get the big recognition he deserves and Malmsteen would impress his long-time fans with a 'new' voice. There are no fillers here, but the songs that impressed me the most are "Behind the Moon" and "Metal Monster" for the sheer beauty of their vocal melodies that are so catchy yet also heavy. The way Breed shifts from toned-down whispered vocals to soaring screams that drip with power is so uncannily Bruce Dickinson during the classic Maiden period it's jawdropping. Galloping riffs can also be; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Conspiracy in Mind; Brand: Communic; Review: After going through Conspiracy in Mind a few times, I was stunned as to how much similar the vocalist sounds like the singer on Scariot's amazing work Strange to Numbers. I was rather late on giving Communic's debut a listen and, based on numerous reviews I'd read, I always believed he sounded like Nevermore's Warrel Dane. Well, the comparison is by no means off. However, I had no idea that the singer was Oddleif Stensland, the same guy who was in Scariot a couple of years ago. Communic is mostly Stensland's project, as he plays all guitars, sings, and is responsible for much of the songwriting as well. The album spans roughly an hour of playing time and contains seven tracks, all of which are rather lengthy. Much like some other Scandinavian power metal bands, the production on Conspiracy in Mind could immediately be pinpointed as a classic Jacob Hansen work. The somewhat compressed and unnecessarily polished guitar tone does detract from the listening experience. The album is simply too clean and sterile given its dark lyrical and musical content. Some of the acoustic passages, such as the one on the almost 10-minute "They Feed on Our Fear", lack dynamics we've come to hear on any Kernon or Sneap produced Nevermore album. While Stensland is more of an upper register singer than Warrel Dane, some of his phrasing and delivery are definitely taken out of the Dane textbook. Though quite heavy in parts, mainly due to the rampaging bass and pounding drums (by another former Scariot member Tor Atle Andersen), I'd classify at least five out of the seven tracks as midtempo. Nothing too flashy or impossibly fast on this disc, as the writing dictates fluctuating rhythmic intensity and various melodic segments. "Communication Sublime" is one of the exceptions, being quite intricate in its arrangement and guitar playing, especially in the beginning. The bass underlying Stensland's guitar keeps the track intact while rendering it a groovy vibe. The emotional power ballad "Distance" offers a long acoustic intro and then a sudden foray into a breathing lead solo before vocals and multi-track rhythms surround the piece. Great screams echo in the distance, as cymbals sparkle and emphasize atmosphere. Perhaps the song that displays Stensland's most emotive and powerful delivery is "Ocean Bed". There is something for every member here. A great bass solo, and some of the finest a capella singing from Stensland in his career. Conspiracy in Mind is a strong debut, but something inside me says, the best from Communic is yet to come.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Van Halen; Brand: Van Halen; Review: There are very few bands and guitarists in the history of music who changed the face of rock and reinvented the guitar, making everyone who thought they knew the instrument re-evaluate their knowlegde. Well, exactly 28 years ago, on 10 February 1978 came out the greatest rock debut of all times. And to this day, no other guitar album has had more impact on music the same way. Sure there was Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Beck, and many other amazing players before Eddie Van Halen, but even these shredders acknowledged Eddie's impact and unmatchable playing and songwriting. Not since Jimi Hendrix' Are You Experienced? in 1967 were people, both guitarists and fans, so shocked at what they were hearing when "Eruption" hit the waves, displaying yet an unmatched energy, power and technique. Simply put, if there's one album that put guitar-oriented music back in its deserved place in the late 70's and made it stay there for decades on end, it's the self-titled Van Halen debut. "Eruption" is one of the most important musical statements ever made in the history of rock. Now known as the "brown sound", Eddie Van Halen's monster tone, his acrobatic hammer-ons, pull-offs, whammy-bar dives, and unique trademark two-handed tapping licks on this short instrumental suggest a true virtuoso in every sense of the word. Basically, with this song, Eddie changed everything in the blink of an eye. Even the most prolific guitar players refused to believe the nasty end part of the track was actually played on a guitar, cause it sounded too much like a frenetic keyboard solo. However, what truly makes "Eruption" so timeless is the compositional mindset it entails. Eddie actually wrote this piece way before 1978. There are 1975 bootlegs of Van Halen where Eddie plays a longer version of this piece. The one that ended up on the album is a more refined yet technically challenging version. The most interesting thing about the song, however, is that Eddie recorded it in just two takes. That's not too big a surprise for Van Halen fans though, considering the fact that this band was one of the fastest recording acts in the world and hated going over the same tune more than a handful times. The album produced two major hits when it was released. The opening song "Runnin' with the Devil" starts out with eight simple bass notes played by Michael Anthony and quickly launches into a hard-rocking anthem that brims with then unheard riffs and burning leads. On "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love", Eddie's opening chords are epic in scope and powerful in impact. Graced with a great chorus and an impeccable back-up harmony, this song probably features Eddie's godliest solo on the album, aside from the untouchable "Eruption" that is. Van Halen's cover of The Kinks, "You Really Got Me", was actually the first single of the album and yielded a lot of fan interest in the band, despite its 2:37 minute running time. The band totally made this tune their own, while staying true to its integrity, they fueled it with their; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ; Brand: Van Halen; Review: There are very few bands and guitarists in the history of music who changed the face of rock and reinvented the guitar, making everyone who thought they knew the instrument re-evaluate their knowlegde. Well, exactly 28 years ago, on 10 February 1978 came out the greatest rock debut of all times. And to this day, no other guitar album has had more impact on music the same way. Sure there was Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Beck, and many other amazing players before Eddie Van Halen, but even these shredders acknowledged Eddie's impact and unmatchable playing and songwriting. Not since Jimi Hendrix' Are You Experienced? in 1967 were people, both guitarists and fans, so shocked at what they were hearing when "Eruption" hit the waves, displaying yet an unmatched energy, power and technique. Simply put, if there's one album that put guitar-oriented music back in its deserved place in the late 70's and made it stay there for decades on end, it's the self-titled Van Halen debut. "Eruption" is one of the most important musical statements ever made in the history of rock. Now known as the "brown sound", Eddie Van Halen's monster tone, his acrobatic hammer-ons, pull-offs, whammy-bar dives, and unique trademark two-handed tapping licks on this short instrumental suggest a true virtuoso in every sense of the word. Basically, with this song, Eddie changed everything in the blink of an eye. Even the most prolific guitar players refused to believe the nasty end part of the track was actually played on a guitar, cause it sounded too much like a frenetic keyboard solo. However, what truly makes "Eruption" so timeless is the compositional mindset it entails. Eddie actually wrote this piece way before 1978. There are 1975 bootlegs of Van Halen where Eddie plays a longer version of this piece. The one that ended up on the album is a more refined yet technically challenging version. The most interesting thing about the song, however, is that Eddie recorded it in just two takes. That's not too big a surprise for Van Halen fans though, considering the fact that this band was one of the fastest recording acts in the world and hated going over the same tune more than a handful times. The album produced two major hits when it was released. The opening song "Runnin' with the Devil" starts out with eight simple bass notes played by Michael Anthony and quickly launches into a hard-rocking anthem that brims with then unheard riffs and burning leads. On "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love", Eddie's opening chords are epic in scope and powerful in impact. Graced with a great chorus and an impeccable back-up harmony, this song probably features Eddie's godliest solo on the album, aside from the untouchable "Eruption" that is. Van Halen's cover of The Kinks, "You Really Got Me", was actually the first single of the album and yielded a lot of fan interest in the band, despite its 2:37 minute running time. The band totally made this tune their own, while staying true to its integrity, they fueled it with their; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Van Halen 2; Brand: Van Halen; Review: Van Halen's second album II is no where near as revolutionary as their eponymous debut, but it still burns with passion of the highest order. Coming out only one year later, it is packed with some of the most energetic and fired-up rock songs the genre has ever seen. Almost all tracks are within the three minute mark and therefore very easy to enjoy. David Lee Roth delivers big sing-along choruses with backing harmonies provided by Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen, while Eddie is still as shocking a player as he was on the 1978 debut. The album immediately resonated with the fans and went gold within a week and platinum within a month. The first CD highlighted Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing all the way. Even the mix propelled the impeccable guitar work there, so there was a conscious effort to bring the band's tight rhythm section forward on II. This album also marks Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen's indestructible rhythmic power. The bass is full and heavy - check out "Outta Love Again". That song is almost completely driven by Michael Anthony's bass, until Roth steals the show with the infectious chorus and Eddie comes in ripping with a "what the hell was that?" type of solo. There are several drums solos on the songs as well. The drumming in the beginning of "Bottoms Up!" came as a shock to Van Halen fans when they discovered Ed's brother was equally killer. On this tour, Alex was instoppable. He started lighting his drum kit during the shows and would play with burning drum sticks that would make the crowds lose it. The best drumming on the album is "Light Up the Sky" though. Alex gets a solo spot on this piece and thrashes the skins madly. During the classic era of the Van Halen, he was among the hardest hitting drummers in the world, and II is one of his finest performances. David Lee Roth shows significant improvement over the debut on II. He is more confident which makes up for his deficiencies as a singer. DLR was always more of a frontman than a vocalist anyway. Still, some of the choruses on this disc are totally gripping, not to mention Roth's unique screams. His sappy vocals on "Women in Love" are simply hilarious. "Dance the Night Away" was the biggest hit off this album though. Roth's majestic hooks, the great percussion, and danceable bass groove all embraced Eddie's sick whammy-dives and solo, which despite being rather complicated, has a very catchy melody that anyone can follow easily. Eddie's guitar playing is still as good as the debut. The solo in "Light Up the Sky", the tapped intro of "Women in Love", the killer riffs on "D.O.A." (this album features some of Eddie's best riffs ever), and of course the cover of "You're No Good" prove that Ed was getting better with each album. The nylon-string acoustic guitar on "Spanish Fly", a song less than a minute, shows how prolific a player Eddie was and what he could do; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eclipse; Brand: Amorphis; Review: It's difficult to change vocalists and retain the same following, but Amorphis have achieved it. Eclipse is the third chapter in Amorphis' career. When they first started out, guitarist Tomi Koivusaari sang and played the guitar. Then came their amazing second singer Pasi Koskinen, stepping in for their Elegy masterpiece, with both clean and death vocals. The band released a string of successful albums with Koskinen until 2004's Far from the Sun, where they not only abandoned their folky roots and psychedelic backdrop, but also took on a relatively more modern sound. The album was criticised severely by the band's fanbase and led to the departure of Pasi Koskinen who perhaps couldn't summon the necessary inspiration anymore. Enter Sinisthra vocalist Tomi Joutsen, hence the third chapter of the band. Not only is Eclipse a perfect return to form, it also marks the release of their heaviest album since 1996's Elegy. Joutsen is an absolutely stunning vocalist, with so much power and emotion in his delivery. Most fans, myself included, thought it impossible to fill Koskinen's shoes, but the impossible has happened. Considering the songs on this album, Joutsen seems like a much better fit than Koskinen would ever have. Repeat listens reveal Amorphis harkened back to their previous albums, combining the best sides of Elegy, Tuonela, and Am Universum. The album kicks off with the powerful "Two Moons", showcasing a very strong vocal performance and plenty of proggy keyboard lines. The piece has a strange Elegy feel to it, moreso sonically than musically. With "Leaves Scar", a song that opens with a folky acoustic intro, the band plays out some great rhythmic grooves, utilising fierce death growls and harmonised back-up singing. Some of the melodies, like the one on "Born from Fire", are the band's strongest in a long time. Both catchy and intense, this song sounds like a heavier leftover from the Tuonela sessions, except with more throaty vocals. There is a nice piano interlude in the middle that repeats the said melody which is then replaced by a terrific guitar lead. Two songs particularly stand out as catchier and more straightforward than before, especially by Amorphis' standards. "House of Sleep" is very much like a Sentenced song circa Crimson where they were at their most melodic (and relatively less mainstream compared to the two albums they followed it up with). Even Toni Joutsen sings like Ville Laihiala did here employing an utterly engaging chorus along the way, until the breaking point where Amorphis makes the piece their own with the arrival of a nice piano and synth lead respectively. Much like "House of Sleep", the closing track "Empty Opening" features a very Sentenced-like chorus, only darker and more aggressive. This wouldn't seem too out of place on Frozen, easily their darkest and most suicidal release. Those who've been expecting a more psychedelic album a la Elegy will be very pleased with "Under A Soil and Black Stone", a song highlighted by odd sound effects, whilst those looking for a more Tales from the Thousand Lakes vibe should enjoy "The Smoke"; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Death Pop Romance; Brand: Raunchy; Review: Raunchy from Denmark are releasing their third full-length album through their new label Lifeforce Records. The album is appropriately titled Death Pop Romance giving a good idea of its content without hearing it. I like the fact that Raunchy are aware that they're on a much different musical route than other death metal bands which focus on relentless riffage, deep and guttural vocals, and crushing rhythms. Raunchy is basically more of a melodic metal band utilising some screamed and some raspy vocals, along with pop music sensibilities. Noted producer Jacob Hansen has injected the album a very polished and shiny mix, which should help them break in more commerical circles. The production is similar to the later day In Flames albums and could perhaps be compared to Soilwork's post-Natural Born Chaos stuff. Huge melodic choruses, sung in both clean and raspy vocals, thick guitar and bass rhythms, and boomy drum beats. Truth be told, their songs on this disc are all based on the same formula, where Kasper Thomsen spurts out semi-growled verses followed by multi-sung clean sing-along choruses. From hardcore meets metalcore type of singing on "This Legend Forever" (where the bass truly stands out) to the more synth-pop driven "Abandon Your Hope" or the electronica-laced "Remembrance", all songs feature a healthy dose of melodic key lines courtesy of Jeppe Christensen and he also experiments with darker themes underlying Jesper Tilsted and Lars Christensen's fiery rhythm guitars. Moreover, he plays a nice synth lead on the track "Persistence". The drumming by Morten Toft Hansen in the intro of "Live the Myth" and the Fear Factory type of industrial sound effects on "City of Hurt" also caught my attention. All things considered, Raunchy's new disc is an okay melodic metal offering with plenty of pop elements. Unlike new In Flames and new Soilwork, this band doesn't claim to be the heaviest on the planet, which gives them an extra edge. This is good stuff for fans of modern metal.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monday Morning Apocalypse; Brand: Evergrey; Review: Monday Morning Apocalypse marks the beginning of a new era in the career of Evergrey and will certainly alienate some of the band's older fans with its deliberately commercial production, shorter and simpler song structures, and noticeably missing synth work. Yes, this is a truly new start for Evergrey. Enlisting the services of Sanken Sandquist and Stefan Glaumann (who have previously produced bands like Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, and Rammstein), Evergrey sounds completely different than before on their new album. The mixing puts a distinct emphasis on the guitars, while vocalist Tom Englund's voice is sometimes excessively processed, at times killing his unique and emotive delivery. It is no secret Evergrey have forever been looking for a real producer to record and mix their albums, but perhaps, what's most important for a band should be retaining their core identity, without losing touch with who they are and what they stand for. Comprised of mostly three-minute songs that heavily focus on crunchy guitar work, the album kicks off with the title track, which was also the first single of the record. Sadly though, Tom Englund's vocals are so processed through the verses you may find it difficult to believe this is the same guy who previously opened albums with tracks like "Solitude Within" or "The Masterplan". As with previous album starters, "Monday Morning Apocalypse" is fast-paced, energetic and ambitious, but apart from the guitar trade-off, it doesn't really have much of a lasting effect. "Unspeakable" hints at a search for darker writing, but unfortunately feels incomplete and more like a Recreation Day leftover. That said, Jonas Ekdahl is at his drumming best on this piece, building it to a solid rhythmic anchor. "Lost" is quite possibly the worst Evergrey song to date, with an awful chorus that just doesn't seem to end ("Inside out / Going outside in ..."). This one is followed by "Obedience", the first track where you can distinctly hear Rikard Zander's piano. This song has a great riff, killer vocals, and majestic twin guitar leads that recall the best moments on Recreation Day, but this, too, is followed by an incompetent number, "The Curtain Fall". Both Englund and Danhage fire off some of their sickest speed riffs here, but the production is so lackluster that I doubt even fans of modern metal may dislike it. The guitar tone is absolutely disappointing and, despite the interesting synth sequencing in the background together with what is perhaps Hakansson's best bass playing on the album, it simply keeps "Obedience" from standing out on this disc. The band must have realised the keys needed to be pushed up significantly in order to hold the interest of their fans circa Solitude Dominance Tragedy and In Search of Truth (both perfectly recorded and mixed by Andy LaRocque), but since their shorter and more commercial tracks would leave no room for any synth experimentation, they've simply thrown in the 1:40-minute piano instrumental "Till Dagmar", a good song but terribly out of place. Much like its counterpart, there is the mandatory piano ballad "Closure" that lets the; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Safety in Numbers; Brand: Umphrey's McGee; Review: One of the most difficult things for jam bands is to recapture the impact and warmth of their live performances on tape. It is almost impossible to create the same energy when your music heavily relies on improvisations, spontaneous melodies, and extended solos that touch base with every genre imaginable, from country to blues to jazz, bluegrass, funk, and rock'n'roll. Despite the difficulties though, Umphrey's McGee put out a solo album in the form of Anchor Drops in 2004 that also helped gain them a wider audience, having been released internationally through InsideOut Music. Now, on their new album, the Chicago-based band have written a more focused album that emphasizes composition and structure rather than improvisation and complex rhythms. The extended guitar solos are kept to a minimum on the sextet's new release. The melodies are more upfront, with the vocals playing a central role in most of the songs. Numbers like "Rocker" and "Liquid" are quite possibly Umphrey's McGee's most defined songs to date. Both obviously written on acoustic guitar and then applied to more varied instrumentation, the songs brim with rich vocal harmonies and wonderful slide guitar. The solo on "Rocker" strangely recalls Gilmour's most passionate yet at the same time painstakingly composed guitar work, where each sustained note is allowed to leave its effect on the listener; while the vocals on "Liquid" are hauntingly beautiful and, dare I say, romantic. Those who've only listened to the band's previous albums will be very surprised when they hear all those harmonies and harmonica here. The only thing that would prevent this piece from being a radio single is its 30 second outro utilising a chaotic "jam band" madness. Awesome stuff. The shorter and more concise tracks present the band's dirty rock'n'roll roots, particularly on the blues rock-inflected "Nemo" and funky "Women Wine and Song", a track highlighted by a cool multiple vocal arrangement, gripping chorus, and bluesgrass meets country lead tone, amidst sounds of jazz piano and harmonica. Great saxophone work graces "Intentions Clear", as the band displays their deep American tradition of folky instrumental on "End of the Road". The title track and "The Weight Around" are both moody and painful, filled with gently plucked acoustic guitars, harmony vocals, and subtle rhythms. Drummer Kris Myers' percussion on the slightly more progressive "Words" is incredible. Light cymbal crashes, weird world music type of beats and sudden rhythmic changes are aplenty here and serve the almost psychedelic mood that precedes Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger's impressive guitar interplay. It is obvious that Umphrey's McGee have decided to save their more progressive and complex compositions for a future release. However, given the mesmerizing bass on "Believe the Lie", so funky and so groovy, enhanced with subtle keyboard touches, blazing organ and guitar leads; or the even more compelling "Ocean Billy", easily the darkest and most brooding Umphrey's McGee song (once again emphasizing unheard percussion and dense atmospherics), this band has a lot more to offer to their ever-growing fan base. Safety in Numbers is quite a departure from their well-received Anchor Drops, but; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brave Murder Day / For Funerals to Come; Brand: Katatonia; Review: Some fans were extremely disappointed after Katatonia decided to explore more alternative yet equally dark areas after releasing the Sounds of Decay EP (which was basically the counterpart of Brave Murder Day). I personally believe after creating a masterpiece like this, there was nothing left for them to achive in this genre, so they decided to pursue more depressing music with all clean vocals, distinguishing themselves from hundreds of other bands. It would be best to think of Katatonia in two phases: their earlier doom-death period with albums like Dance of December Souls and Brave Murder Day as well as several EPs, and their more recent starting with the release of Discouraged Ones. Both eras of the bands are amazing, though I feel Brave Murder Day will always remain as most people's number one album. For their second full-length album, the band decided to enlist the help of their friend Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth to do the vocals, since Jonas Renkse was unable to produce any harsh vocals at the time. I've always argued that Brave Murder Day contains Mikael Akerfeldt's best vocal peformance (outside Opeth that is), as he's never sung with so much pain and emotion before or after. He sure has improved a lot over the years, both as a growler and clean singer, but his vocals on this album are unparalleled. The album starts with the 10-minute "Brave", perhaps the most definitive Brave Murder Day song. Grey guitar lines slowly dissolve during tense, mournful passages thanks to the distant, simple production of Opeth's and Katatonia's earlier producer Dan Swano. The whole album is laced with repeated key themes, which show little variation on the following songs, giving the impression that they are just parts of a huge composition a la Edge of Sanity's Crimson (also featuring Mikael Akerfeldt as a guest). The growls on the piece are low and sound extremely tortured, climaxing during the line that says, "Wherever you are I am not". That is possibly Mikael Akerfeldt's longest and most emotional scream ever recorded. Add to this Blackheim's haunting guitar melody that keeps churning forever. Thus, a doom-death metal masterpiece is complete. "Murder" is perhaps the most simple cut on the album. Only half as long, slowly strummed guitar chords and a repetitive melody bring the piece an added clarity while Akerfeldt delivers the lyrics with utmost conviction. "Day" features Jonas Renkse's clean voice from start to finish. Since Renkse played the drums on Brave Murder Day, they decided to use a static drum machine for this particular song. The guitars are repetitive in a hypnotic fashion. Granted Renkse has come a long way as singer over the last years (particularly from Last Fair Deal Gone Down onwards), his vocals on this track are very emotive and the "Let's stay here for a while" chorus is infectious. On the final track "Endtime", Renkse and Akerfeldt sing together, with Akerfeldt doing the growls (do I have to repeat you've never heard him growl like this before?) and Renkse the clean vocals. Mostly acoustic, the song bears effective; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Isa; Brand: Enslaved; Review: I haven't heard all Enslaved albums, but of those I've heard, Isa strikes me as their most challenging and absorbing. Their songwriting is heightened to levels the band never reached before, with a broader vision of combining their roots of Norwegian black metal with more progressive elements. With Isa, Enslaved have set themselves apart from most other Viking black metal acts, utilising varied guitar riffs that border on avant-garde at times, both black and death vocals, as well as clean-sung deep voices, and perfectly nuanced synth work. Dennis Reksten's keyboard playing on the album is thorough and lends it a very distinct atmospheric vibe. There are several guests on this album, all contributing to its diversity and success. After a dark intro and the first song "Lunar Force", highlighted by excellent black shrieks, pummeling drums, great breaks, varied soundscapes that even touch on electronica; the title track is presented with unexpected clean vocals and screams mixed. A bit like the last Arcturus album, the song features Nocturno Culto from Darkthrone, who also appears on the longer and more atmospheric "Bounded by Allegiance". This is a song where ominous synths are married with crushing riffs, plenty of time changes, and chanting vocals that recall the mid-90's beauty and the best type of bands where the male growlers started doing gothic vocals. However, it's not too long before black screams take the lead until a bluesy rock solo emerges out of nowhere, adding to the diversity of the album. There are so many aspects of Isa that characterize its sound. From drawn-out instrumental passages (best heard on "Reogenesis") with fearless blues licks to cold, dismal black metal experimentations and cinematic elements. "Ascension" is possibly the broadest track on the album, guesting both Ofu Kahn of Red Harvest and country singer Stig Standbakk. Standbakk's vocals are amazing, providing a good contrast to the heavier, more extreme singing; but it's also the hammering drums and fierce guitar riffs that render this cut more interesting than the others. Stanbakk also sings on the acoustic-driven track "Return to Yggdrasill", with occasional extreme vocals and electric leads, and probably the best drumming on the albm. "Secrets of the Flesh" is a great instrumental, loaded with lots of interesting sounds and oddly-timed signatures. All put together, the songs make up Isa, one of the best Enslaved albums, if not the best. It should be in your interest to check out both Arcturus and Akercocke's latest albums for similarly multi-textured, diverse tracks encompassing elements of death, black, prog, and even avant-garde.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Paradox Hotel; Brand: The Flower Kings; Review: It's simply unbelievable. Whenever The Flower Kings releases a new album, it becomes an instant favourite of mine. Such was the case with their 2004 release Adam & Eve, perhaps their darkest work. With Pain of Salvation frontman Daniel Gildenlow doing the lead vocals on a couple of tracks, the album was simply different with its exquisite rhythm work, excellent guitars, and rich vocal harmonies. Though the album wasn't received as well as some of their earlier releases, it managed to be the only Flower Kings release that I listened to for over eight months straight. Now, the Swedish prog rockers are back with Paradox Hotel, their new album. Unfortunately Daniel Gildenlow is no longer part of the band, and also gone is the band's long-time drummer Zoltan Csorsz who has left for personal reasons. The new drummer is the equally amazing Marcus Liliquist who you may remember from his exceptional performance on keyboardist Tomas Bodin's last solo album I Am. Liliquist's drumming is decidedly less busy than Csorsz' and he also has a less jazzy approach to rhythm. He is more direct and likes to keep it simple, still adding in some of the finest rhythm work, such as the nuanced percussion on "Pioneers of Aviation", complete with a multitude of sound effects including church bells; or the excellent brush drums on "Hit Me with a Hit", a relatively catchier and vocal-driven piece. Stolt's lead tone on this track is at its warmest and most arresting, while Jonas Reingold lays down a funky bass line throughout. The album is divided into two CD's, and contains songs from four members. Although Roine Stolt is still the primary writer, there are several pieces penned by Tomas Bodin, such as the weird intro track that introduces a concept; some tracks written by Stolt, Bodin, and Reingold together; and even a track by solely Hans Froberg. Needless to say, the result is a very diverse yet perhaps slightly laidback album. For a start, Paradox Hotel is no where near as dark as its predecessor, but it is progressively rich in powerful arrangements, riveting strings (give "Bavarian Skies" a listen with excellent vocals by Froberg), and elaborate guitar work. The vocal harmonies are still first class, while the band's love for Yes is still evident in much of their songwriting attitude. The second track from Disc One: Room 111, "Monsters & Men", at over 21 minutes, is bound to become a future classic for the band. The piece goes through several movements, each haunting in a different way, and sees the band juxtaposing elegant piano melodies and slick guitar riffs; Bodin adds swells of analog synths to the mix and Stolt's bluesy guitar work recalls his recent solo album Wall Street Voodoo. So diverse is the song that every imagineable genre is brought into the track, starting with classically inspired orchestration and concluding with wild fusion guitar that also bleeds into folk music before returning to its blues leanings. One song that stands out for its interesting lyrics on the first disc is "Jealousy", portraying an; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Images and Words; Brand: Dream Theater; Review: Dream Theater's second album, Images & Words, is one of the most ground-breaking and innovative albums of the 90's. It is a milestone in progressive metal and has been the inspiration for countless musicians who heard this disc and decided to play music. Whether this is the best Dream Theater album is debatable. There are people who will consider this and its follow-up their finest works, while some others will claim Dream Theater grew from record to record, always pushing the form of the envelope. However, what cannot be argued is that Images & Words is certainly the most important album they've released and one of the cornerstones of the genre. They have and probably never will sell this well again either. This is their only album that went gold Stateside, mainly because of their radio hit "Pull Me Under". The song starts with echoic acoustic guitars, creating a nice aura, before rolling drums enter the mix and make way for hypnotic guitar riffs by John Petrucci and beautiful synths by Kevin Moore. Inspired by William Shakespeare's Hamlet, "Pull Me Under" is highlighted by an infectious chorus, delivered masterfully by James Labrie, and a thick bass bottom. Petrucci's sweeping guitar arpeggios and Moore's textural synth work lay the foundation of the piece which lyrically deals with mixed feelings about revenge and death, and even the contemplation of suicide. For years, the abrupt ending of the song has caused controversy among prog fans. Some said it was a mastering mistake; while others disagreed, claiming the unexpected cut-off is meant to signify the sudden, unexpected death of a person, which makes sense. This can be best noticed at the very end of the track where Labrie sings an excerpt from Hamlet: "Oh that this too, too solid [sullied] flesh would melt". Made up of eight tracks, Images & Words is one of the most balanced albums Dream Theater have produced. Alternating between melodically strong, riff-heavy tracks to more moody, ballady pieces, the variety captured on this disc is stunning. "Another Day" is not only a more compact number, but it also offers one of the finest guitar solos by Petrucci you'll ever hear, not to mention the soaring soprano saxophone that runs through it. This is followed by "Take the Time", a song interlocking atmospheric synths and a groovy bass and guitar tandem. As its title and lyrics suggest, this song reflects the state of the guys' minds (this is the only track on the album with lyric contribution by each member). Without a label, singer, and a fully defined musical direction, Dream Theater decided to take their time to find their own niche, enriching the piece with a powerful vision of songwriting: great backing harmonies, acoustic and synth breaks, storming drum attacks, and a soaring vocal performance are all merged into the compositional framework which has resulted in a Dream Theater classic, still played live in concerts. Though each piece is vital to this album's success, the general opinion is that "Metropolis Part 1" and "Under A Glass Moon" are Images & Words'; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Christ O; Brand: Vanden Plas; Review: Four years have passed since Vanden Plas' amazing album Beyond Daylight, by many considered their creative peak and most consistent release. The band have taken their time to write their new concept album Christ O (Christ-less), basing it on the story of The Count of Monte Cristo. Yet again, it seems this may be Vanden Plas' best effort, as they continue to outdo themselves with each successive release, surprising their entire fanbase. Christ 0 not only combines the band's traditional progressive metal leanings with the more theatrical work heard on Andy Kuntz' solo project Abydos, it also involves a 40-piece classic choir and a cleverly arranged full orchestra that contribute to the album's diversity. The result is nothing short of stunning. The production is mammoth, and the songwriting vivid. Beginning with great soprano vocals and a very symphonic arrangement, the title track features every single Vanden Plas characteristic they've trademarked over the years: hard-hitting guitars, slick arrangements, wonderful melodies, powerful drum and bass rhythms, and excellent keyboard work. The band's writing team again consists of guitarist Stefan Lill, vocalist Andy Kuntz, and keyboardist Gunter Werno, but as with all of their albums, there's room for every member, especially the band's unmistakable rhythm duo. As a matter of fact, Andreas Lill's drum sound may be the most prominent on any of the releases yet, while Torsten Reichert's bass mostly serves to fatten the guitars. That said, track five, "Shadow I Am", puts the focus on his growling bass lines, underneath Kuntz' infectious chorus and Werno's unconventional synth patch. "Postcard to God" is arguably the heaviest song on the album, at times evoking Dream Theater circa Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (which is a great thing!) in the way that Reichert and Lill feed the piece with thundering syncopation that follows ethereal keyboard and piano melodies, stop-start guitar riffage, and excellent vocal harmonies before the female choir wraps things up. "Wish You Were Here" has a moody start that slowly develops into a passage with deeply snarling bass guitar, shifting tempos, and tasty backing vocals. The track embarks on a killer interplay between shredding lead guitars and analog synths, as the song slowly segues into the album's most powerful piece: "Silently". Slow piano notes, subtle keyboard effects, stomping drums all unite in order to create an almost dreamy, perhaps cinematic number. The chorus of the song is terrific, with Kuntz just singing over solo piano in the first part, and then a thickened string arrangement towards the end. The song runs through several movements, each equally riveting. Stefan Lill's guitar solo may be his most melodic on the album, whilst Kuntz lets out several high screams that would give the best guys a run for their money. Andreas' drums march amidst seas of symphonic textures, as Gunter Werno lays down a synth solo that may be the best I've heard from him ever, and the song concludes with a very unexpected acoustic guitar coda that is simply beautiful. "Silently" is the definitive Christ 0 track, as it envelops everything Vanden Plas stands for. "Somewhere; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Free; Brand: Office of Strategic Influence; Review: I firmly belive that no post-Dream Theater Kevin Moore material is an easy listen, and OSI's long-awaited sophomore release is no exception. Many fans were curious how Jim Matheos and Kevin Moore were going to follow up their amazing debut release, and while first listens may leave some confused, a couple of thorough spins will have them hooked. Free is quite different from its predecessor in the way that it sounds a bit more like Moore's Chroma Key project than the self-titled OSI debut. Although there are still some amazing riffs from Jim Matheos, this album is definitely more Moore-driven and bears similarities with his more recent works, including his soundtrack Ghost Book and the last Chroma Key record Graveyard Mountain Home. The duo is again supported by Mike Portnoy who plays acoustic drums this time around, displaying admirable restraint. No matter how many people may badmouth him, Portnoy continues to prove everyone what an amazing musician he is, appearing on all kinds of different projects, with great results. Free is perhaps his most minimalistic side, because of the thick atmosphere on the album, but at any rate, his performance his spectacular. Former bassist Sean Malone, on the other hand, has been replaced by Matheos' bandmate Joey Vera, playing bass on five tracks (which are mostly the heavier ones). The first two songs are also arguably the hardest-hitting pieces. "Sure You Will" kicks in with lots of electronic beats that give way to Vera's huge bass line and Matheos' crunchy guitar riffs as well as Moore's unique atmospherics. The title track continues in a similar fashion, and is shaped by Fates Warning-style riffs, a great bass groove, a plethora of sound effects, and a wickedly soaring chorus over gigantic, Tool-like riffs. Portnoy's drumming on this song is by far his best on the album, and continues to shock me every time I hear it. From here on, there is a distinct Kevin Moore vibe happening. "Go" starts with wonderful acoustic guitars, static bleep sounds, industrial noises, and typical Chroma Key vocals. Minimalism is employed thoroughly on the song, with a symphonic aura created by Moore that might be the first thing to stand out on Free after the first couple of listens. The chorus is painfully gripping and rich in melody. What follows is arguably the best song, "All Gone Now". It is built upon a strong foundation of atmosphere and dynamics. Constantly shifting between mad riffage and daunting synth passages, this song features some of the finest melodies Kevin Moore has written since Awake. His synth melodies simply soar to high levels while Matheos' playing contrasts the eerie mood of the piece. "Home Was Good" is also instantly accessible, mainly because of Kevin's emotive singing where his voice echoes on and on fading into pure white noise, as gently strummed acoustic guitar sounds float above the evocative landscape. Strangely, this song recalls Moore's stuff on the Ghost Book soundtrack to me. "Bigger Wave" is a bit like Blackfield, only more electronic. It is fleshed out with great breaks (Portnoy is amazing; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Somewhere Along the Highway; Brand: Cult of Luna; Review: Cult of Luna's fourth album Somewhere Along the Highway was miraculously recorded in merely seven days. Given their amazing back catalog and how their previous effort Salvation was considered their peak, this is certainly interesting. How can you follow up such a masterpiece with an album recorded so quickly? Well, Cult of Luna have once again achieved it. Though too early to form a final opinion, Somewhere Along the Highway may end up being most of their fans' favourite release in more than one way. While accurate to a certain extent, comparing Cult of Luna to Isis, Pelican, and Neurosis constantly would be unfair. It is true that all of these bands have a lot in common musically, but upon careful listens, beautiful subtleties emerge on each band's work. Of the four bands though, Cult of Luna's music is arguably the most linear one. Never for a moment do they sacrifice song structure in hopes of impressing the listener with their meandering instrumentals or oft-changing chord progressions. That said, complex arrangements and monstrous soundscapes are aplenty on any of their albums, including Somewhere Along the Highway. However, Cult of Luna songs are always masterfully constructed, mixing heaviness with an atmospheric undertone. Churning rhythms are repeated to generate a feeling of unity before unleashing massive cosmic forces at the most unexpected breaking points. The aggressive hardcore type of scream vocals are less prominent on this disc. Actually Klas Rydberg sings in his calming clean voice on several tracks, which sounds a lot more mature and improved this time around. The drone approach also takes a back seat, giving way to a more open sound through most of the album, where the band successfully creates spacey atmospheres and flashes of uplifting enlightment. Starting with the ambitious "Marching to the Heartbeats", Rydberg's clean vocals and the dreamy ebb and flow on the musical landscape, along with beautifully strummed acoustic guitars, bring to mind the serene moments heard on Mogwai albums, before the vocalist graces the piece with his tortured screams, not too different from his work on The Beyond. The riffs and continued brutal vocals on "Finland" suggest that the previous track was just a lengthy intro to the piece, as the drone effect is almost nonexistent, leaving its place to much welcome heavy passages. Drums roll while guitars form an ethereal mood on "Back to Chapel Town", with soul-crushing screaming, and big, wall-of-sound guitars. "And With Her Came the Birds" is utterly depressing and minimalistic. Completely clean-sung, the song features echoic guitar arpeggios, emphasized lyrics, a slowly-developing keyboard mix in the background, and a beautifully performed acoustic guitar-like instrument that has an odd exotic feel to it. "Thirtyfour" and "Dim" are mostly instrumental songs, save for their ending, where vocals explode during passages of reflection and melancholy. Thomas Hedlund's drumming on "Thirtyfour" lends it an almost funeral doom metal vibe, with sparse yet powerfully nuanced rhythms, while his unusual percussion blends nicely with the electronic sampling placed neatly underneath. A song with shifting dynamics, it contains both super-heavy sections with growling bass and guitar; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Somewhere Along the Highway; Brand: Cult of Luna; Review: Cult of Luna's fourth album Somewhere Along the Highway was miraculously recorded in merely seven days. Given their amazing back catalog and how their previous effort Salvation was considered their peak, this is certainly interesting. How can you follow up such a masterpiece with an album recorded so quickly? Well, Cult of Luna have once again achieved it. Though too early to form a final opinion, Somewhere Along the Highway may end up being most of their fans' favourite release in more than one way. While accurate to a certain extent, comparing Cult of Luna to Isis, Pelican, and Neurosis constantly would be unfair. It is true that all of these bands have a lot in common musically, but upon careful listens, beautiful subtleties emerge on each band's work. Of the four bands though, Cult of Luna's music is arguably the most linear one. Never for a moment do they sacrifice song structure in hopes of impressing the listener with their meandering instrumentals or oft-changing chord progressions. That said, complex arrangements and monstrous soundscapes are aplenty on any of their albums, including Somewhere Along the Highway. However, Cult of Luna songs are always masterfully constructed, mixing heaviness with an atmospheric undertone. Churning rhythms are repeated to generate a feeling of unity before unleashing massive cosmic forces at the most unexpected breaking points. The aggressive hardcore type of scream vocals are less prominent on this disc. Actually Klas Rydberg sings in his calming clean voice on several tracks, which sounds a lot more mature and improved this time around. The drone approach also takes a back seat, giving way to a more open sound through most of the album, where the band successfully creates spacey atmospheres and flashes of uplifting enlightment. Starting with the ambitious "Marching to the Heartbeats", Rydberg's clean vocals and the dreamy ebb and flow on the musical landscape, along with beautifully strummed acoustic guitars, bring to mind the serene moments heard on Mogwai albums, before the vocalist graces the piece with his tortured screams, not too different from his work on The Beyond. The riffs and continued brutal vocals on "Finland" suggest that the previous track was just a lengthy intro to the piece, as the drone effect is almost nonexistent, leaving its place to much welcome heavy passages. Drums roll while guitars form an ethereal mood on "Back to Chapel Town", with soul-crushing screaming, and big, wall-of-sound guitars. "And With Her Came the Birds" is utterly depressing and minimalistic. Completely clean-sung, the song features echoic guitar arpeggios, emphasized lyrics, a slowly-developing keyboard mix in the background, and a beautifully performed acoustic guitar-like instrument that has an odd exotic feel to it. "Thirtyfour" and "Dim" are mostly instrumental songs, save for their ending, where vocals explode during passages of reflection and melancholy. Thomas Hedlund's drumming on "Thirtyfour" lends it an almost funeral doom metal vibe, with sparse yet powerfully nuanced rhythms, while his unusual percussion blends nicely with the electronic sampling placed neatly underneath. A song with shifting dynamics, it contains both super-heavy sections with growling bass and guitar; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mental Torments + 1 Bonus Track; Brand: Spheric Univers Experience; Review: Originally called Gates of Delirium, the band was formed in 1999 by guitarist Vince Benaim who then hooked up with new members and released a well-received demo called The Burning Box. The band also played gigs to make a name for themselves before there were several member changes (including the addition of current singer Franck Garcia). Soon, they decided to change their name to Spheric Universe Experience and got a management deal with IntroMental whose relations with noted producer Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Beyond Twilight, Pretty Maids) helped them get their music its deserved sound quality. Mental Torments is a fine hybrid of melodic prog with occasional quirky moments a la Pain of Salvation's great debut Entropia and plenty of crunch-filled moments. The album starts with one of their best and most diverse cuts, "So Cold". Dark acoustic guitars and atmospheric keyboard work set the tone for the piece as waves of Entropia period Pain of Salvation traces can be noticed, moreso writing-wise than musically though. It's just the way the vocals are recorded; sometimes doubled, sometimes a higher register voice singing over incomprehensible spoken parts. From here on, the band opts for a more melodic, clearly Dream Theater-inspired (think Images & Words) style, utilising a lot of keyboard and guitar solos, backed by a powerful rhythm section, and soaring vocal harmonies. The slow and atmopsheric synths that begin "Now or Never" give way to angry vocals that are unmistakably Labrie-influenced, only more aggressive. Garcia's tone could be likened to that of Evergrey's Tom Englund, as he likes to use his throaty voice quite a bit while exotic synth melodies and melodic guitar solos enrich the soundsacpe and drive the piece to its melodious ending. There are three instrumental songs on the album, one of them being the US-only bonus track "Sidereal Revolution", a song which the band's fans owning the European version will want to hear. At seven minutes, it is filled with interesting key and tempo changes and chops aplenty. However, the best instrumental on the album is arguably "Burning Box Gala". It starts with electronic bleep sounds and delves into a complex, multi-textured number, allowing each instrument to play the lead role during different parts and bordering on some of the most technical riffs and chord progressions you can hear on albums in this vein. There are even moments where they touch on jazz territory akin to Liquid Tension Experiment but with more emphasized rhythm guitars. The last instrumental is the mostly piano-based "Halleygreto", where drums, bass and guitars join Fred Colombo's classically-influenced playing, lending it a powerful coda. With due respect to all the songs on Mental Torments, it is "Saturated Brain" and the 15-minute title track that give it its special edge. The former, while distinctly Dream Theater-influenced, is an excellent piece of work balancing both majestic heavy and soft parts, and melodic and technical moments. Fred Colombo extracts rich and diverse tones out of his keyboard while guitarist Vince Benaim's solo is truly heart-felt and expressive. The title track, on the other hand, is more ambitious. It; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Metal Black; Brand: Venom; Review: There is no arguing that Venom is one of the most important and influential bands in the history of metal. Not everyone may think they are a good band, but I doubt in the mid-80's there were any bands that weren't influenced by their music in one way or another, especially by their Black Metal (1982) and At War with Satan (1983) albums, both of which rank very high on the most influential discs of extreme metal. Remember, Venom has never been a black metal band in the sense some people perceive them to be. Rather, they were a proto-black metal act, utilising mostly thrash and post-punk riffs and extreme lyrics in their music. So the theory that Venom has had little or no impact on black metal is false. Both death and black metal have evolved from thrash, though they are totally different genres, and Venom is certainly one of the main acts that spawned the 90's black metal movement. Anyway, the new Venom album is a nod to their past, as the title implies. However, in other ways, it also leans towards a more melodic edge, particularly because of guitarist Mykvs's immense contribution. Myvks is no newcomer; he previously played on Venom's Calm Before the Storm (1987) and also appeared on Cronos' recent solo album. Metal Black is quite possibly the most melodic Venom release in their career, given some of the solos are immensely well-crafted and melody-inserted. That said, much of their songs are still Motorhead and punk-infused, such as the opening song "Antechrist", their only oldschool piece on this track, marked by chuggy guitars, fat bass, and raw drumming by Antton (who also played on the previous album Resurrection). "Burn in Hell" also continues in a similar vein, bringing out more obvious Motorhead riffage that unfortunately seems recycled though. The solo on this piece is great, however. Actually there are guitars you've never heard on previous Venom albums before. Both "House of Pain" and "A Good Day to Die" feature catchy, exotic licks by Mykvs, also utilising a slower, Sabbathy guitar aura on the former and a growling bass on the latter. Regarding the other songs, they seem to have some really good, well-written parts. Unfortunately though, as a whole, something seems to be missing in most of them. For example, it's a shame that the band failed to develop the amazing opening main riff of "Darkest Realm", besides the clean, smooth guitar solo it contains. I feel this could make for one of the finest live songs on the album. "Assassin" is also a great piece with an infectious lead solo, but the rest of the riffs are terribly repetitive and Cronos' vocals sound very uninspired. The marching drums and militaristic riffs on "Death & Dying" are worth hearing as is the dirty rock'n'roll offered on "Rege Satanas". "Lucifer Rising" is a very bland piece overall, but the guitar playing on it is the best on the album. "Hours of Darkness" is possessed by a demonic vocal performance by Cronos and a very solid rhythmic angle. This; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Falling in Between; Brand: Toto; Review: Falling in Between in Toto's first album in seven years and what a great return it is. With new keyboardist Greg Phillinganes (Phil Collins, Eric Clapton) on board, the band sounds tighter than ever, having written some of their finest songs in a long time. There is so much to enjoy on this disc which might quite possibly be one of Toto's most diverse releases in their long career. With ten songs and an impressive list of guest musicians, the album makes a solid start with the title track, featuring a distinct Eastern vibe, great vocals, melodic guitars, and a superb keyboard lead by Steve Porcaro. The song both rocks and visits dreamy soundscapes before it ties in with the more progressive rock number "Dying on My Feet", a piece highlighted by terrific vocals, awesome harmonies, and an exceptional horn section at the end. Former Toto singer Joseph Williams appears on the slowly-building "Bottom of Your Soul", with his vocal melodies evoking Jorn Lande's powerful performance on Ark - Burn the Sun. Williams fits the mood of this track perfectly, which utilises a tribal rhythm anchor, hand drums, and mood-intensive acoustic passages. Some chanted Indian vocals add to the track's ethnic characteristic, before multiple vocal lines are exchanged and lead to Steve Lukather's Floydian slide guitar solo over a moving piano melody. David Paich is the highlight of "King of the World", a dynamic song that recalls Asia's most brilliant era. Paich's vocals are going to appeal to fans of 80's pop meets AOR melodicism with its shimmering key layerings; while "Hooked" is a semi-electronic, hard-rocking number guesting the amazing Ian Anderson on flutes. The album maintains its flow through and through, displaying its different aspects with each track: "Simple Life" is the Lukather-sung acoustic love ballad with an eerie percussion planted deep in the mix; while "Taint Your World" wouldn't seem out of place on the first Van Halen album had it not been for its 70's analog synths and occasional sound effects. One of the most playful songs on the album, it mostly stands out for its amazing run-out solo where Lukather truly steals the show. However, the best guitar song on the album has got to be "Let It Go", delving into the depths of funk-rock, employing a groovy bass motif by Mike Parcaro and out-of-this-world drumming by the amazing Simon Phillips. This album is proof why he is among the most creative and unique drummers in the world. I simply love his work on Falling in Between, mainly because I had no idea he was so good at world music beats as well. "Spiritual Man" is a bit like "Simple Life" in the way that its vocal melodies are so beautiful and gripping that other bands could only dream of writing stuff in this vein. Add to this the brilliant saxophone lead that widens the scope of the song. Truth be told, I didn't think I'd be so pleased with a Toto album again. This simply came as a great surprise and will surpass many of the year's; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Falling in Between; Brand: Toto; Review: Falling in Between in Toto's first album in seven years and what a great return it is. With new keyboardist Greg Phillinganes (Phil Collins, Eric Clapton) on board, the band sounds tighter than ever, having written some of their finest songs in a long time. There is so much to enjoy on this disc which might quite possibly be one of Toto's most diverse releases in their long career. With ten songs and an impressive list of guest musicians, the album makes a solid start with the title track, featuring a distinct Eastern vibe, great vocals, melodic guitars, and a superb keyboard lead by Steve Porcaro. The song both rocks and visits dreamy soundscapes before it ties in with the more progressive rock number "Dying on My Feet", a piece highlighted by terrific vocals, awesome harmonies, and an exceptional horn section at the end. Former Toto singer Joseph Williams appears on the slowly-building "Bottom of Your Soul", with his vocal melodies evoking Jorn Lande's powerful performance on Ark - Burn the Sun. Williams fits the mood of this track perfectly, which utilises a tribal rhythm anchor, hand drums, and mood-intensive acoustic passages. Some chanted Indian vocals add to the track's ethnic characteristic, before multiple vocal lines are exchanged and lead to Steve Lukather's Floydian slide guitar solo over a moving piano melody. David Paich is the highlight of "King of the World", a dynamic song that recalls Asia's most brilliant era. Paich's vocals are going to appeal to fans of 80's pop meets AOR melodicism with its shimmering key layerings; while "Hooked" is a semi-electronic, hard-rocking number guesting the amazing Ian Anderson on flutes. The album maintains its flow through and through, displaying its different aspects with each track: "Simple Life" is the Lukather-sung acoustic love ballad with an eerie percussion planted deep in the mix; while "Taint Your World" wouldn't seem out of place on the first Van Halen album had it not been for its 70's analog synths and occasional sound effects. One of the most playful songs on the album, it mostly stands out for its amazing run-out solo where Lukather truly steals the show. However, the best guitar song on the album has got to be "Let It Go", delving into the depths of funk-rock, employing a groovy bass motif by Mike Parcaro and out-of-this-world drumming by the amazing Simon Phillips. This album is proof why he is among the most creative and unique drummers in the world. I simply love his work on Falling in Between, mainly because I had no idea he was so good at world music beats as well. "Spiritual Man" is a bit like "Simple Life" in the way that its vocal melodies are so beautiful and gripping that other bands could only dream of writing stuff in this vein. Add to this the brilliant saxophone lead that widens the scope of the song. Truth be told, I didn't think I'd be so pleased with a Toto album again. This simply came as a great surprise and will surpass many of the year's; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Speak of the Dead; Brand: Rage; Review: Arguably Germany's best power metal band Rage must have interested metal fans at least during one of their phases. Starting out as a great speed metal outfit, they gradually morphed into a more thrashy power metal band, eventually taking on orchestral arrangements with incredible piano work, before they decided to return to their more straightforward melodic power metal route. If you were a fan of the band's Lingua Mortis, which they recorded with an entire orchestra, but thought the album could have used a bit more guitar work, like they did on the more recent albums Unity and Soundchaser, then their new album will be right up your alley. Speak of the Dead is basically a culmination of the orchestra-supported stuff and their more guitar-driven, melodically engaging work. The first eight songs on the album were recorded with a real orchestra, the Suite Lingua Mortis, and contain five little instrumental pieces, penned by guitarist Victor Smolski. After a heavily orchestrated intro, we hear a few unique bass lines from Peavy Wagner and a killer drum fill by Mike Terrana whose drumming skills still remain unmatched in the German metal scene (perhaps only rivaled by the amazing Jorg Michael). The piece then takes on an entirely orchestral tone with some brief sweep guitar work by Smolski. "Innocent" is the first real track featuring Peavy's incredible vocals - it's a song with an awesome chorus and both synth and guitar leads, not to mention the ever-present bass arpeggios. Another short instrumental is "Depression", a painstakingly composed piece with gentle strings. "No Regrets" is a more midtempo song, perhaps slightly ballady, and it's also the most theatrical one. Smolski's melodic guitars and church organ lay down the foundation of the track, as the trio sings amazing multi-part vocals at the end. More brief instrumental stuff follows highlighting Terrana's incredible drum rolls and segues into the the semi-acoustic, semi-orchestral "Beauty", featuring a heavy blues guitar and heart-wrenching vocals. From here on, it feels like a new album picks up. Gone are the orchestra and the 1-minute instrumental cuts. The band takes us by storm with their heaviest song on the album, "No Fear". The song is captured by fierce rhythms, strong vocals, and an energetic drum performance from start to finish before Rage offers us their classic power metal interpretation in the form of "Soul Survivor". Laden with a big chorus that is repeated over and over, this one's quite similar to most other German power metal bands' songs. Its follow-up, "Full Moon", isn't too different, except that it begins with nicely strummed acoustic guitars. There's again a huge chorus, and the melodic guitar soloing by Smolski must be heard. Though not a huge turn from the others, Rage chose to close the album with relatively more compact and powerful cuts. "Kill Your Gods" and "Turn My World Around" are both perfect song titles, considering their content. Oft-changing rhythms, polyrhythmic drumming, chiming bass, and huge vocals bring to mind the band's stuff on Unity or perhaps Welcome to the Other Side. Don't expect any Black in; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sinner's Intuition; Brand: Enforsaken; Review: Enforsaken plays a signature mix of the Gothenburg style, recalling gods like In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Soilwork, Arch Enemy, and The Haunted, among others. What's amazing, however, is they are the first American band I've heard to recapture the magical melodies of these bands blending them with oldschool American style death metal leanings. Had it not been for the lineup in the booklet, I'd have never believed these guys are from the USA. So melodic is their playing, even touching on Maiden's galloping riffs and occasional clean vocals that contrast the otherwise brutal riffery, it's simply amazing. Never heard their debut, but Sinner's Intuition is a powerful second album, packed with energetic guitar riffs that sacrifice neither melody nor aggression, searing vocals, fast kick drums, and a maniacal bass guitar madness. Eric Kava deserves a special mention for achieving that killer bass performance amidst seas of never-ending guitar riffery and semi-screamed, semi-growled vocals by Steven Sagala. "Enemy Angel" is a prime example of how much bass can add to a death metal song: the song explodes with rampaging bass lines before some clean vocals mixed with brutal screaming kick in as madly-picked guitar experiments are performed by Joe DeGroot and Steve Stell. The duo finishes the piece off with a majestic unison solo that is so heavy yet also unbelievably melodic. The more technical pieces like "Slain" and "Halo of Ruin" are highlighted by swift chord progressions that blend the most powerful moments of The Haunted and Darkane, adding in big Maiden-style chords to enrich the vocal harmonies, and crazy drumming to boot. Actually the run-out solo of "Halo of Ruin" has nothing to do with death metal. On the contrary, it's an honest statement of melodic rock soloing that is absolutely expressive and articulate. "Sever the Ties" sees their session keyboardist establishing an epic, battle-like intro, as Gregorian chants enter revealing more of the band's European influences. Again, this song is graced by a majestic solo, by both guitarists battling it out on each other. Enforsaken will interest fans of melodic death metal, particularly earlier In Flames and Dark Tranquillity, but it will also reach those that seek more aggression and relentless power in their music. This has been more than a big surprise to say the least.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Black Is Never Far; Brand: Place of Skulls; Review: Just looking at the current and former members of Place of Skulls should be enough to indicate what an amazing band they are. Consider this list of acts: Pentagram [US], Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, Trouble, Spirit Caravan, Novembers Doom, and others. Place of Skulls has been around for quite some time, and despite being a die-hard doom metal fan, The Black Is Never Far is my first introduction to them. This is their third album. Place of Skulls is led by former Pentagram guitarist Victor Griffin who handles also the vocals on the album. Griffin is accompanied by the ferocious bassist Dennis Cornelius from Oversoul, another kick-ass doom band. And Tim Tomaselli is responsible for the drumming. The trio have created an amazing piece of work, with varied soundscapes and dynamic arrangements. The album makes a safe start with "Prisoner's Creed" that recalls St. Vitus with its relentless old school riffs and slightly blues-tinged solo. Griffin's vocals fit right in as he proves he is as expressive a singer as he's a guitarist. The band's deeply Sabbath-rooted musicality is displayed on cuts like "Sense of Divinity" and "Apart from Me", both of which boast crazy soloing from Griffin. Actually the former is a lot more experimental than most of the Sabbath reportoire; it's a song that moves from sludgy build-ups to frenzied solos to tense silences. It is a very dramatic song and helps set the grey tone for the rest of the album. Expanding on Griffin's love for the contrast between really heavy and soft passages in songs, the trio experiment with this approach on "We the Unrightous", a song whose lyrics address corrupt politicians, with the softer parts helping the band to convey their messages. However, there are also entirely acoustic numbers on the album: "Darkest Hour", my personal favourite, begins with gloomy acoustic guitars, employing some rhythmic variations, and even Opeth-like breaks. The solo by Griffin on this song sends chills down the spine; I love this one so much that I even thought this may be the most moving lead I've heard all year. Each note is there to make a point and the fluidity in his expression is stunning. The title track is also mostly acoustic-based, but they do highlight some of the darker moments with forceful guitar attacks and the song is finalised with another nice lead solo. By the way, it is worth mentioning that three out of the thirteen songs on the album are just short intros that are usually below the 20-second mark. One of these pieces, simply titled "Interlude", serves to heighten the very bluesy and, dare I say psychedelic, "Lookin' for a Reason". What a song indeed. Painful acoustic guitars are strummed slowly as a forlorn saxophone theme soars above the piece and Griffin ventures into a bluesy solo that is a bit like Jerry Cantrell's earlier work in Alice In Chains (a similar pattern is followed on the heavier "Masters of Jest" by the way). Again the soloing on this song is beyond my abilities to explain. This album, while; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reminder; Brand: Nearly; Review: You may be familiar with the Nine Inch Nails drummer (and sometimes guitarist) Jerome Dillon. NearLY is Dillon's new project inspired by some recurring nightmares that he had for over six years (starting during his tour with NIN in 1999). First off, don't expect anything like Nine Inch Nails whatsoever. NearLY is a completely different entity. Dillon is responsible for much of the instrumentation on the album. He plays pretty much everything from piano to electric and acoustic guitars, drums, percussion, dobro, ukulele, and Mellotrons; and he also handles the programming, ambience, and string arrangements. He's supported by a rich array of guests, including the amazing female and male vocalists Claudia Sarne and Greg Dulli respectively (it's mostly Sarne singing though). The outstanding violin contribution of Petra Haden is also worthy of mention. Most of the songs are within the four-minute range, with some clocking in at less than two minutes. The music is in the post-rock mold focusing on minimalistic soundscapes that are highlighted by lots of non-metal instruments such as cellos, violas, and violins as well as wide percussive elements. Whilst Dillon performs most instruments, he chose to enlist the amazing vocal skills of Claudia Sarne whose angelic, fragile voice fits the pieces perfectly. After a dense start with various strings that help set the mood, Sarne's vocals float softly over Dillon's heavily reverb-induced acoustic guitars, eerie rhythms and cellos on "Straight to Nowhere". However, the following track "All is Lost" has an even more melancholic feel to it that recalls the earlier Dead Can Dance albums with live drums (there is plenty of programmed beats on the album as well). The heavy ambience during the intro of "Liars Day" evokes the dense atmospherics on Tool's "Flood" off Undertow. It's a song with sparse keys and a densely atmospheric undercurrent we mostly hear on Ulver's soundtrack albums. "Prins Hendrik" and "Mary Vincent" are two songs that are not only musically riveting but lyrically as well. The theme of loss of innocence is perfectly portrayed by Sarne's ghostly vocals on the former (complete with a distant guitar tapestry), while the Mellotron-inserted "Mary Vincent" was inspired by a kidnapped girl who was raped and murdered violently at the age of sixteen. "Step into the Light", originally a song by Afghan Whigs, features both Claudia Sarne and the tune's original singer Greg Dulli. And it's perhaps the most emotional cut on the album along with the brief instrumental "Blackwing" whose piano work is right up there with Sigur Ros' () masterpiece; or the multi-textured soundscapes heard on "Up in the Trees" (much like something I'd expect from Ulver frontman Garm). "Tributary" goes back to trippy and electronic beats that underlie a deep acoustic guitar sound. A bit like later day The Gathering, the song is filled with sounds fabricated from Dillon's dreams. "Release", perhaps the most fitting title, is the album's final track: sporadic throbs, numbing guitar drills, and ethereal production. Two months ago, when I first heard Reminder, I thought it was barely mediocre. Now, after patient repeat listens, I'm happy I; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trance State; Brand: Red Circuit; Review: Red Circuit is an awesome super group consisting of some of the most talented musicians in the melodic and progressive metal genres. It is primarily the project of Markus Teske, one of the greatest producers to come out of Germany. He is best known for his work with bands that include Vanden Plas, Symphony X, Saga, Neal Morse, and Ian Parry's Consortium Project. If you've heard the new Vanden Plas album Christ 0 and are a fan of melodic prog metal you must have loved the production on it big time. Bringing in Vanden Plas vocalist Andy Kuntz to co-produce the album, Markus Teske handles the keyboard work and much of the songwriting. One reason why Red Circuit's Trance State is such a success is vocalist Chity Somapala. The name may not ring a bell, but I'm sure you've heard at least one of his projects: Avalon, Firewind, Ivanhoe, Moonlight Agony and so on. Somapala is an incredible vocalist and terribly underrated. He's always reminded me of another Sri Lankan singer, Roy Khan. His smooth, expressive voice is both powerful and utterly emotive and it allows him to portray a huge spectrum of moods. This album could be his best performance in his career yet (along with Avalon's Eurasia) in that he delivers amazing vocal harmonies that exude melody and power dripping with emotion. For example, the opening track, whose Eternity X-like keyboard intro by Teske is masterful in itself, finds Somapala going for a Lande meets Khan style with added percussive work and great breaks inserted with sound effects and melodic solos. "Is It Gold?" is a groovy track, particularly for its explosive main riff, but it's swiftly carried into a different context due to heavy 70's-inspired keys and a fantastic lead solo by Adagio's Stephan Forte. To contrast Forte's intricate playing Somapala dives headlong into a multi-part vocal harmony that will make fans of Threshold go crazy. And as if that's not enough, there is the exotic-sounding "The Veil" that eerily evokes Turkey's Pentagram during their Anatolia period. Rich Middle Eastern instruments, huge bass, a terrific interplay between guitars and keyboards, and on top of all, another guest solo by Vanden Plas' shredder Stephan Lill, not unlike his awe-inspiring work on Christ O. "Where You Are" calms things down a bit. It's mostly Teske's piano and a sad violin juxtaposed giving way to one of the most impressive vocal melodies I've heard all year (give a close listen between 1:32 and 1:59 especially). There are also great backing vocals in the second half of the piece, by female singer Christine Wolff. The middle part of the album boasts the more straightforward, groovy cuts such as "So Hard to Be Like God" where Teske marries symphonic elements with electronic soundscapes; "Search for Your Soul" guested by an insane solo guitar virtuoso Patrick Rondat; and "You Might Have Been Queen", which finds bassist Tommy Schmitt and drummer Frank Bodenheimer laying down some complex rhythms and unexpected fills. From here on, the band's influences, particularly in the vocal department, are again more noticeable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Unexpected; Brand: Beautiful Sin; Review: Beautiful Sin is the new project of Germany's drum god Uli Kusch (ex-Helloween, Masterplan). Kusch must have wanted to find other ways to express himself, as he teamed up with Axel Mackenrott on keys from Masterplan, Pagan's Mind members Steinar Krokmo and Jorn Viggo Lofstad on bass and guitars respectively, and last but not least the amazing female vocalist Magali Luyten. Actually Luyten and Kusch have known each other for quite some time, since Kusch had primarily produced a demo for Luyten's previous band, which unfortunately never took off the ground. So, when the idea of forming Beautiful Sin came to mind, Kusch's first choice for vocalist was Magali Luyten. Even though this album is meant to be a departure from the previous efforts of Uli Kusch, in many ways, it's just a more keyboard-driven version of his recent output with Masterplan. Mackenrott's synths are all over the place, and aside from the few songs where he delves into deep experiments, the music could be described as a melodic metal release with some serious hard rock leanings, plus modern production values to boot. Also, I was reminded of Jorn Lande's solo albums quite a bit in some ways, as Jorn Viggo Lofstad, the guitarist of Beautiful Sin, is also an integral part of his albums. And it's a known fact that Lande has always been a huge hard rock fan, therefore often releasing albums in this vein. The band start the album with the ambitious "Lost", the definitive Beautiful Sin song. It is highlighted by great keyboards, melodic female vocals (with the occasional male back-ups) and powerful bass and guitars. However, "This Is Not the Original Dream" is a better cut to fully appreciate Luyten's soaring vocals, and the guitar solo by Loftstad is stunning to say the least. Uli Kusch's drumming skills are still intact, as he opts for great rhythmic variations and top-notch double bass as well. Most of the songs on the album are quite mid-tempo, picking up crunch and heavier parts only during the apex of the piece or the occasional choruses. "Take Me Home" is one of these songs. After delicate keyboards, the music is graced by thundering bass and rhythm guitars as well as a cool multi-part vocal harmony. "I'm Real" is based on pretty much the same formula, except that the drumming by Kusch is the highlight this time around. Speaking of Kusch, even though this is primarily his project, the number of songs where he attempts to put his skills on display are next to none, which makes me admire him all the more. The heaviest songs have got to be "Give Up Once For All" because of Luyten's aggressive vocals (a bit like Kimberly Goss perhaps); "Pechvogel" where the heavy-as-hell intro is perfectly contrasted by a mellow and slightly electronic key patch; the melodic piece "The Spark of Ignition", marked by varied time signatures and impressive harmonies; and the slowed-down power metal "Metalwaves", which in fact isn't as good a song as the others, but it's got a cool energy to it. There; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Materia; Brand: Novembre; Review: For reasons I cannot fully understand, Novembre has always been compared to Opeth and it's been said that they were heavily influenced by them. While it is a given that there are certain similarities between the two bands, as both both acts recorded their debut in 1994 in Dan Swano's Unisound Studio and both liked the idea of alternating between heavy, extreme sounds to slower, clean moments, Novembre's new album Materia should settle any argument that they have always been a unique band in their own right and they have established themselves as a distinct group. Materia is in many ways the most realized Novembre work. Although it isn't as heavy as, say, Classica; or as complex as Novembrine Waltz, it is excellently composed in the way that the tracks are constructed where every part of the song comes together and plays off each other. There are many contrasting elements in their songs that interact with each other in ways Opeth have never done before. Harmonically, this is one of the most intricate Novembre albums ever, combining their penchant for trance-inducing melancholia and progressive songwriting. Though this one is considerably less heavy than their previous releases, it still transpires a lot atmosphere as it carries a dense and relentlessly dark allure that evokes feelings similar to Katatonia's The Great Cold Distance. Actually, I firmly believe that Materia and The Great Cold Distance are two of the best releases of the year so far and, in ways I fail to describe, complement each other beautifully. Maybe it's the production, the introspective lyrical themes, the somewhat prevalant Tool references (mostly in the vocal department), or simply the fact that both bands have surprised their fans greatly exceeding their expectations. On Materia, the mellow moments clearly outnumber the heavy ones, as Carmelo Orlando makes less use of his distinctive growls and black-ish screams. The music presents a more acoustic-driven approach with heavier guitar riffs contrasting them, and Carmelo emphasizes his diverse vocal skills, which sometimes evoke Tool due to the heavily processed vocal overdubs. Vocal-wise, this could be his most diverse work to date. He goes from melancholic low registers on "Verne", featuring wonderful acoustic guitars, searing electric leads, and thick drum fills; to downright melodious singing on "Aquamarine" which he finishes with snarly, vicious screams backed by killer harmonies. A similar approach is executed on "Jules", beginning with incessant kick drums and electronia-tinged atmospherics, as Italian lyrics with gripping vocal harmonies are delivered. The second half of the piece is capped by intricate transitions and melodic guitar passages. The two songs that highlight Carmelo's vocal skills best are "Geppeto", whose Garden Wall circa Path of Dreams-like classical intro is simply breathtaking. The bass playing on this song, while subtle, is marked by some of the most atypical chord progressions you'll hear, underlying Carmelo's best vocal melody to date before he opts for spoken vocals, whispers, and humming. The part where he sings, "Quel giorno il mare era un quadro di colori scuri, disse 'Guarda un po chi c'! Mi sei mancato compare!'" (which would; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crimson Skies + 1 Bonus Track; Brand: Cloudscape; Review: Cloudscape's debut album in 2005 gained a lot of positive reviews from dozens of websites raving about it as a fantastic piece of melodic metal effort with moments that might also interest fans of progressive music. It's a shame I never got around to checking it out. Therefore I have no idea how their new disc compares to it, but somehow, after hearing the amazing songwriting and musical performance on it, I'm inclined to believe they have really outdone themselves. Now, less than two years later, the Swedish band returns with their sophomore release, Crimson Skies. Led by vocalist and main composer Mike Andersson whose voice I really enjoyed on the recent Marcel Coenen album, Cloudscape is a band in the vein of Valley's Eve, Lanfear, and perhaps Lion's Share. The first thing that strikes me about Crimson Skies is its amazing production, handled by none other than Anders Theander whose work with Pain of Salvation is magical. Actually the album was produced by Pontus Lindmark and Theander is credited as the executive producer. Even though Cloudscape sounds nothing like Pain of Salvation, there are some sonic similarities between the two bands' songs. For example, the drum tone on "And Then the Rain...", a powerful tune with passionate vocals and gripping melodies, is akin to the stuff on Remedy Lane; or "Take the Time" also reveals Theander's vision of hypnotic synth playing with ethereal atmospherics and excellent lead guitar and piano work respectively. Guitarist Patrik Svard's tone is smooth and fluid, and utterly engaging. A bit like Last Tribe in this respect, Svard's axework is there to improve the music, not to showboat. His strength mainly lies in swift chord progressions and melodic content. Central to the album are the catchy choruses by Mike Andersson, on cuts like the terrific album opener "Shapeshifter", littered with distinctive keys and crunchy guitars; "Shadowland" with great vocal harmonies and backing vocals by bassist Haynes Pherson; or the more proggy number "Psychic Imbalance", which begins with dark keyboard notes before launching into a concentrated prog assault with lots of reverb-induced vocals. Similarly, "Hope" features plenty of tempo shifts, ominous rhythms (what a fantastic bass sound!), and acoustic passages laced with some of the most articulate lead guitar playing melodic metal fans will see. The keyboard work by Andersson and Eliasson is particularly impressive, especially on the more challenging tracks such as "1000 Souls" (I love the shredding keys beneath the main melody); the more classically-driven "The Last Breath", with a very melodious edge; or the addictive "Will We Remain", featuring beautiful female vocals to provide contrast and dynamics. Cloudscape have released a very accomplished album in the form of Crimson Skies. Melodic metal doesn't get better than this. By the way, Mattias Noren's artwork is stunning as well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Reveries; Brand: Opeth; Review: Several careful listens to Ghost Reveries should suffice to see Opeth's move to Roadrunner Records hasn't changed or affected their musical vision the least bit. I've played this disc seemingly hundreds of times and each spin cements my opinion that this is still a great Opeth album that gets better and better. So if you put off checking it out because of some people claiming they "sold out", I urge you to think again and buy this album and form your own opinion. Ghost Reveries is one of the most varied albums in Opeth's catalog, displaying a rich compositional style blended with passionate songwriting and stylistic cohesion. I cannot stress the "passionate" part, as some of the songs are among the most haunting and emotive Mikael Akerfeldt has written. While the band had plenty of time to rehearse and perfect the material on Ghost Reveries, there were also songs that were recorded in one take or even put together in the studio. The compositions are very organic from start to finish, and the addition of keyboard player Per Wiberg only serves to add more dimension to their music as opposed to influence their direction in a negative way. Speaking of Wiberg, some of the songs on the album are very much accommodating, as they allow Wiberg to pull out ever-colourful synth sounds, blazing organs, grand and electric piano, and the Mellotron. Though his presence isn't as prevalant on the heavier cuts such as "Ghost of Perdition" and "The Grand Conjuration", there is still a solid wall of synth sound built around the relentless riffing and demonic death metal growls. "Ghost of Perdition", a terrific choice to open the album, also sees Opeth taking on some distinct Tool influences, particularly in the syncopated rhythm guitars and eerie percussion work. The guitar tuning and some of the chord progression evoke Tool's "The Grudge", which is no big surprise considering Akerfeldt has always cited Tool among his favourite bands. The other heavy number "The Grand Conjuration", on the other hand, highlights the band's technical proficiency, with an epic arrangement and very fast yet well-written lead solo. Akerfeldt's vocals on this song are among his best in his career. "Baying of the Hounds" is arguably the finest cut on the album, introducing 70's organ sounds contrasted by great transitions and awesome clean vocal harmonies. Lopez' drumming on this track is sublime while Wiberg's keyboard acrobatics culminate in a somewhat avant-garde instrumental break which is then followed by an interplay between blazing guitar solos and thundering rhythms. The piece features some of the best lyrics on this album and is impressively finalised with a climactic ending. Also, note that the title of this song was actually inspired by the lyrics of Comus' 1970 debut First Utterance, namely the opening song "Diana": "The dim light she comes peering through the forest pines / And she knows by the sound of the baying, by the baying of the hounds". The heavy and softer parts contrasted on "Beneath the Mire", which is actually one of the hidden gems, show a; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deadwing; Brand: Porcupine Tree; Review: Deadwing sees Porcupine Tree taking the ideas they employed on their masterpiece In Absentia a step further, while also returning to their earlier, more psychedelic period in some spots. It still retains the heaviness of In Absentia with some songs being their heaviest yet, but overall, I'd give the edge to In Absentia, as it's an album that relies less on Porcupine Tree's space rock era and more on Steven Wilson's new-found love for bands like Opeth, Tool and Radiohead. This album is actually based on a film script written by Wilson and his friend Mike Bennion, and was described as being "a surreal supernatural ghost story". Given their amazing concerts on their Deadwing tour, with the huge video screens behind the band visualising the concept, this is definitely a darker and more morose album than its predecessor. The songs on it are characterized by despair and terror, as well as fear and paranoia. The ambitious title track will sound immediately familiar if you, like me, have played In Absentia a million times and still can't get enough of it. Yet, the inclusion of vague electronics that begin in the first second and won't let go till the end, which nearly sees the ten-minute mark, suggest Steven Wilson did seek new ways of expressing himself. Without taking too long, a growling bass figure is thrown into the mix which quickly merges with a wall of rhythm guitars and dark synth effects barraging the listener. The vocal harmonies are as brilliant as ever, always leaving enough space for more atmospheric, tranquil passages that are marked by echoic key swells, before being followed by a demented lead guitar solo courtesy of King Crimson's Adrian Belew, reflecting his demented songwriting vision. By now, the soundscapes of Deadwing have already been defined and the listener is in for a real treat. Unlike the band's more focused and cohesive styles heard on their previous releases, such as Lightbulb Sun and Stupid Dream, Deadwing attempts at a larger scope, combining all of the strongest aspects of Porcupine Tree's earlier albums, as it also opts for heavier and more aggressive musical statements. "Shallow" is possibly the heaviest Porcupine Tree song yet, marked by rock's visceral, groove-based approach to rhythm and an explosive main riff that highlights Wilson's somewhat catchy vocals during the chorus. Much like this, "Halo" is another addition to the heavier songs on Deadwing in that it combines a big, funky bass drive with industrial effects and leads into another guest solo by Adrian Belew amidst incomprehensible spoken vocals and clever drum fills. Similarly, "Open Car" sees the band marrying lighter sounds with more guitar-friendly segments where cascading riffs blend with some of the finest vocal harmonies Wilson came up with before the song returns to its calm, peaceful start and closes with gently strummed acoustic guitars. Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt appears on the album, singing harmong vocals on three songs, one of them being the Blackfield-like "Lazarus", a song that encompasses both psychedelic atmospherics generated by slide guitar and poppy vocals that sound perfect over Barbieri's remarkable; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tuonela; Brand: Amorphis; Review: Following Amorphis' amazing Elegy album, a curious mix of psychedelic sounds, folk, and death metal, the band decided to leave their death metal roots behind, and enlist Pasi Koskinen as the only vocalist utilising clean vocals. Thus, Tuonela ("Underworld" in Finnish) marked the start of a new era for the band, where they explored more folky sounds blending them with Floydian soundscapes and timeless melodies. Tuonela presents a more focused songwriting vision, functioning as a perfect transition from the band's new-found progressive roots on Elegy to a more stripped down yet more original sound. It hints at a development of the band's Middle Eastern ideas in songs like "Nightfall" and "Greed". Actually the beautiful synth solo and saxophone on "Nightfall" would later be perfected on Am Universum; however, "Greed" is a quite curious piece, being the only song featuring death growls and interesting percussion and sitar sounds from Tomi Koivusaari. These two songs are tied together by the amazing title track "Tuonela", complete with strong vocal melodies, ominous guitar and keyboard work, and a great piano coda along with fitting saxophone, courtesy of Sakari Kukko. The keyboard player on this album was Santeri Kallio performing as a guest, but he would become a full-time member by their next release, and thus play a more vital role in the overall songwriting. The more straightforward "Morning Star" is chock full of hard rock guitars and 70's organ amidst boomy bass grooves. Likewise, "Shining" and "Withered" are among the fast-paced numbers in that they are both guitar-friendly compositions, highlighted by lots of wah pedals, ringing notes, and catchy riffs. That said, "Withered", despite its exotic leanings and sparkling keyboards, does seem to drag on a bit. It's actually a good song, but Amorphis would learn to hone their future material and craft songs with more variety. On the other hand, "Divinity" is a nod to their love for Floydian psychedelia which allows them to throw us plenty of Moog and guitar leads. "Rusty Moon", complete with prominent flute sounds, is the most folky work on Tuonela, evoking their Elegy period without relying on any death growls. With all that said, the most experimental pieces on the album are the first song "The Way" and perhaps the album closer "Summer's End". The most melodic and modern-sounding cut, "The Way" begins with shimmering electronic sounds planted under an organic guitar and keyboard hybrid. This song was easily their bravest moment given their extreme metal roots: they employed slow, psychedelic elements and married them into effect-laden guitar contexts. At the same time, special attention was given to big choruses emphasizing Koskinen's uniquely melodic vocals. They played both Moog and rock-styled guitars that were comparatively denser and served to achieve atmosphere rather than monumental death metal riffage. Of the three Amorphis discs with Pasi Koskinen on lead vocals, Tuonela may be the best. While there are some better songs with creative ideas on Am Universum, such as "Alone" and "Crimson Wave", Tuonela is decidedly a more complete album. It features more guitar work whereas Am Universum is a jazzier; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Euphoria Morning; Brand: Chris Cornell; Review: Following the demise of Soundgarden in 1997, everyone was curious what Chris Cornell would do next. Would he immerse himself in another band where he could display his blood-curdling screams or would he surprise everyone with something totally different? He chose the latter. With Natasha Shneider on keys and Alain Johannes on guitars, Cornell found the opportunity to break away from his heavily Zeppelin and Sabbath-rooted musical background, and he also asked some other musicians to make an appearance on the record. The result is a very diverse album, highlighting Cornell's immediately identifiable vocals and relatively simpler songwriting. That said, he had the chance to incorporate a multitude of other instruments, including tambourine, theremin, and timpani. Besides the trademark blues rock-ridden songs that helped Cornell make a name for himself, he also digs deep into psychedelia, best heard on "Preaching the End of the World", a song that finds Cornell opting for thick, Radiohead-like arrangements, lofty acoustics, and a strange mix of keyboard and guitar effects. Not too different is "Disappearing One", guesting Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron with its moving vocal melodies, shimmering keyboards and even a vague clarinet addition. Surely, Soundgarden fans expecting a very heavy record with meaty guitars and lots of aggressive vocals will be sorely disappointed. But they need to realize Euphoria Morning was meant to be different way before Cornell started working on it. Solo projects serve the purpose of letting the artists express themselves in ways they are unable to in their own bands. And considering this, Euphoria Morning is a huge success. That said, there are still some songs where the band behind Cornell churns out some rocking riffs and rhythms, such as "Flutter Girl" and especially "Pillow of Your Bones" during the chorus. The former starts out in an almost poppy fashion but quickly picks up a playful funk bass line and is finished off with a cool blues lead; whereas the latter is more straightforward, employing lots of acoustic and electric guitars as well as weird percussion work. The final song "Steel Rain" is also a number that alternates between decidedly heavier parts and more haunting, ominous moments. The ethnic drumming (great tabla rhythms) on this track is quite experimental given Cornell's music with Soundgarden and later on with Audioslave. "Follow My Way" and "When I'm Down" are the most moving songs, with the latter featuring a deft piano and organ melody beneath Cornell's heartfelt delivery. This is another song that embraces his love for bluesy guitar work and it also features some female backing harmonies during its pre-chorus. Similarly, the title track is a passionate piece where Cornell sings entirely a capella over acoustic guitars. There are no other instruments; Cornell plays his guitar and simply sings his heart out. A remix of the effect-laden "Mission" would later be included on the Mission Impossible 2 soundtrack while "Moonchild" became a minor hit with its eerie atmosphere along with the opening song "Can't Change Me", perhaps the most modern-sounding, upbeat song on the album. Despite being only three minutes though, its flow is; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Still Life; Brand: Opeth; Review: Still Life marks Opeth's most noticeable foray into exploring more progressive sounds, utilising a cleaner and more pristine production work compared to their first two albums produced by Dan Swano. Not as heavy as My Arms, Your Hearse, their first album engineered at Fredman Studios, Still Life contains more clean vocals than before, merging the band's interest in death metal, progressive rock, and Scandinavian folk, while still retaining their heavy approach to songwriting. After this disc, Opeth would move on to work with Porcupine Tree mastermind Steven Wilson, venturing into more 70's prog with thicker soundscapes and layered melodies. For starters, there is a wealth of clean vocal harmonies on this album, which have Akerfeldt sounding a lot more emotive and elaborate. This would be the album where he found his true self as a clean vocalist. Still alternating between demonic death growls and fragile, soothing clean passages, the album became a logical next step for the band's future albums, where they experimented with more complex harmonies. However, the first two songs on Still Life are arguably Akerfeldt's finest moments, as far as clean choruses are concerned. "The Moor", the album's first track, is comprised of innumerable threads of melodies that range from the slow, haunting intro to the acoustic and electric riffs respectively. Actually the acoustic intro of this song remains among Opeth's most remarkable to this day. Infused with clear folk elements which particularly come to the fore during the amazing chorus that starts with the lyrics "If you'll bear with me, you'll fear of me", the melody of this section is reproduced on guitar impressively. There are several guitar themes soaring above the piece, while neat acoustic elements are played on top of them, and Akerfeldt's melodies convincingly hummed. Without doubt, when contrasted with his possessed death growls, the dynamics make for an incredible song overall. "Godhead's Lament" is another Opeth classic. Starting with sudden shifts of metallic riffage and a paralyzing lead solo, the song retreats to its anticipated calm mood, where a fantastic guitar theme is played to generate atmosphere. Unlike the opening song, this time Akerfeldt delivers the lyrics staying true to the theme played, singing "What would they care if I did stay, No one would know", stressing the final word and producing heart-wrenching melodies. For a brief moment, the bass, acoustic and electric guitars are all played in synch before the song ventures into its initial heavy path, only to highlight another clean chorus that is arguably the most moving part on the album. The all-clean sung "Benighted" and "Face of Melinda" are both sublime. The former maintains its careful flow throughout, with subtle blues-inflected leads; while the latter does take on a heavier vibe in its second half with a great electric solo. By many considered Opeth's most engaging ballad, it is also interesting Mikael Akerfeldt would name his new-born daughter Melinda a few years later. On the heavier side, "Moonlapse Vertigo" and the amazing riff-master "Serenity Painted Death", besides highlighting Opeth's death metal heaviness, are also punctuated by creepy middle sections underpinned; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Octavarium; Brand: Dream Theater; Review: I learned long ago not to pass quick judgement on a new Dream Theater album, especially from their post-Awake period. Because whenever I did, as in the case with Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, I had to eat my words upon discovering the album is actually ultimately rewarding given patient listens. The case with Octavarium isn't any different. After the band's obsessively heavy (yet also amazing) Train of Thought, Dream Theater have put out an album that in no way treads on the same route as its predecessor. Rather, it forges its own path, still unafraid to borrow any and all influences the band members may have had during the writing and recording of this album. This disc may be Dream Theater's most mellow outing since Falling into Infinity. It does contain some commercial moments as well as a good many ballady material, but careful repeat listens will attest to their wealth of melodies and meticulous arrangements. The oft-criticised "The Answer Lies Within", considered too monotonous and sappy by some, is actually a very neat song. It may bear a resemblance to "Anna Lee" off of Falling into Infinity in some ways, but there is more to this carefully written and arranged piece. While its beginning may seem cliche because of its slow intro, plucked acoustic guitars and Labrie's ballad-style voice, the inclusion of a great string quartet with awesome violin and cello motifs in the second half help elevate the song to impressive heights. And thus, "The Answer Lies Within" becomes quite engaging, particularly given it's the second song of the album. It provides a nice contrast to the ambitious album opener "The Root of All Evil", the third piece of Portnoy's AA program, following "The Glass Prison" from Six Degrees and "This Dying Soul" from Train of Thought. "The Root of All Evil" is among the best songs on the album for a variety of reasons: it encompasses the whole Dream Theater sound their fans have come to appreciate over the years, as it moves from a brave synthesized patch to wonderfully restrained drumming and forceful bass guitar. There is even a cool vocal melody that is strangely evocative of Labrie's work on Scenes From A Memory. The piece is finalised with a frenzied guitar and keyboard interplay and a sweet piano coda respectively. It is understandable the rather modernist beginning of "These Walls" and the much U2-inspired main chorus of the somewhat poppy "I Walk Beside You" will not be among Dream Theater fans' favourites, but it is also important to note how these songs are actually structured with creative ideas and top-notch production. Myung's bass becomes a driving force on "The Walls", which is saying a lot, considering the same fans have expressed a wish to have his instrument louder in the mix. Octavarium presents his fat, growling bass through and through, on almost all the songs. And although there are no extended guitar solos on these tracks, Petrucci plays well-written guitar themes that fit the flow of the cuts. Dream Theater has never been a band to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Octavarium; Brand: Dream Theater; Review: I learned long ago not to pass quick judgement on a new Dream Theater album, especially from their post-Awake period. Because whenever I did, as in the case with Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, I had to eat my words upon discovering the album is actually ultimately rewarding given patient listens. The case with Octavarium isn't any different. After the band's obsessively heavy (yet also amazing) Train of Thought, Dream Theater have put out an album that in no way treads on the same route as its predecessor. Rather, it forges its own path, still unafraid to borrow any and all influences the band members may have had during the writing and recording of this album. This disc may be Dream Theater's most mellow outing since Falling into Infinity. It does contain some commercial moments as well as a good many ballady material, but careful repeat listens will attest to their wealth of melodies and meticulous arrangements. The oft-criticised "The Answer Lies Within", considered too monotonous and sappy by some, is actually a very neat song. It may bear a resemblance to "Anna Lee" off of Falling into Infinity in some ways, but there is more to this carefully written and arranged piece. While its beginning may seem cliche because of its slow intro, plucked acoustic guitars and Labrie's ballad-style voice, the inclusion of a great string quartet with awesome violin and cello motifs in the second half help elevate the song to impressive heights. And thus, "The Answer Lies Within" becomes quite engaging, particularly given it's the second song of the album. It provides a nice contrast to the ambitious album opener "The Root of All Evil", the third piece of Portnoy's AA program, following "The Glass Prison" from Six Degrees and "This Dying Soul" from Train of Thought. "The Root of All Evil" is among the best songs on the album for a variety of reasons: it encompasses the whole Dream Theater sound their fans have come to appreciate over the years, as it moves from a brave synthesized patch to wonderfully restrained drumming and forceful bass guitar. There is even a cool vocal melody that is strangely evocative of Labrie's work on Scenes From A Memory. The piece is finalised with a frenzied guitar and keyboard interplay and a sweet piano coda respectively. It is understandable the rather modernist beginning of "These Walls" and the much U2-inspired main chorus of the somewhat poppy "I Walk Beside You" will not be among Dream Theater fans' favourites, but it is also important to note how these songs are actually structured with creative ideas and top-notch production. Myung's bass becomes a driving force on "The Walls", which is saying a lot, considering the same fans have expressed a wish to have his instrument louder in the mix. Octavarium presents his fat, growling bass through and through, on almost all the songs. And although there are no extended guitar solos on these tracks, Petrucci plays well-written guitar themes that fit the flow of the cuts. Dream Theater has never been a band to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milliontown; Brand: Frost; Review: Frost is a new project on the Inside Out label, led by Jem Godfrey who is the main songwriter, keyboardist, vocalist, and producer. Godfrey is actually a successful pop music producer, but his heart has always been in the progressive rock genre. So he decided to put together his own band, enlisting amazing musicians: John Mitchell from Kino and Arena on guitars and vocals, John Jowitt on bass and Andy Edwards on drums, both of IQ fame. Needless to say, Frost is quite different from the musicians' bands, as Godfrey's vision was obviously to marry the hallmarks of progressive rock with modern recording and production techniques. There is plenty of studio trickery happening on these songs, ranging from electronic elements to slightly industrial beats, to processed vocals and clever mixing. Although Frost will no doubt appeal to most, if not all, neo-prog fans, the music presented on Milliontown is arguably heavier and more experimental than most releases in this genre. The production being excellent and guitar tones blending seamlessly with Godfrey's oft-times virtuosic keyboard performance culminates in breath-taking moments, as on the instrumental opening piece "Hyperventilate". Slow yet effective keyboard notes kick the song off mixing with the slowly building guitar riffs that are noticeably more complex than what Mitchell has played on his own bands' records. The brief technical wizardy blows your mind away before returning to a solemn solo piano and back to heavy, almost grinding guitar sweeps that rise and rock up until the five-minute mark. From here on, a vague folk motif is inserted before the song is wrapped up with swift acoustic guitars contrasting a solid rhythmic bottom and thick soundscapes. It is an incredible way to start the album. Fans of IQ will be utterly pleased to hear the duo shining like they've never shined before. The songwriting is very rhythm-friendly to say the least, as Godfrey has given both Edwards and Jowitt enough room to take the lead and grace the songs with their rhythmic and technical abilities. It is Jowitt's dynamic bass sound that drives the otherwise modern-sounding, dark number "No Me No You", a song defined by great vocal harmonies and sudden tempo shifts. Likewise, "The Other Me" features a funky bass line around which the rest of the instrumentation is centred, often delving into catchy melodies with big choruses, very heavy breaks, and unusually experimental electronics that move from crackling noises to static bleeps, recalling OSI on their Free album. Speaking of these industrial sounds, there is more to hear on the shorter cut "Snowman" where Godfrey's piano melodies are combined with quiter acoustic guitars and lots of reverb-induced sound effects. The last two songs are also the longest ones. "Black Light Machine" will immediately strike a chord with the 70's prog lovers in that it offers everything they may be looking for. Beautiful keyboards, poppy vocals, great guitar work, gorgeous symphonic moments, and so on. What's best about this track is the fantastic build-up to Mitchell's guitar solo, both emotionally charged and wonderfully recorded. Again, Jowitt's bass is central to the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Director's Cut; Brand: Fantomas; Review: Director's Cut: The version of a film in which the editing process is overseen, executed, or approved by the director, usually including footage not included in the standard release. This is the case with Fantomas' The Director's Cut, a compilation album of sixteen movie themes which Mike Patton and the amazing band behind him re-interpret in their dementedly creative musical vision. With drum god Dave Lombardo behind the skins, and two other friends of Patton's: guitarist Buzz Osbourne from the Melvins and bassist Trevor Dunn from Mr Bungle, the quartet offer their take on some of the most interesting movies we've seen. Since none of these pieces were originally composed by Mike Patton, you have to bear in mind that some of the songs still carry with them the fingerprints of the original composers, which include Ennio Morricone, Henry Mancini, and Nuno Rota. However, the versions on this disc differ vastly from the ones on the original movies, hence the appropriate title The Director's Cut. Some of the material on this 39-minute disc barely qualifies as "songs" per se, ranging from as little as a few seconds to the maximum of three-plus minutes. Out of the sixteen cuts, the average song length is around 2:00 minutes, alternating between insanely chaotic and brutal to almost childish. "The Godfather" is a prime example of the former description, starting in a creepy manner, picking up a deep bass riff, and delving deep into a fast and heavy sonic explosion. Patton screams, shrieks, growls and grunts. Like a soul possessed by demons, his "singing" is paranoid and unlike anything you've heard from him, given you're only familiar with his work with Faith No More and Mr Bungle. In the blink of an eye, a muted riff arises beneath Patton's vocals to complement Lombardo's sickeningly fast double bass drums and leaves the listener completely baffled. Again, without being able to grasp what's going on, the music quietens down and retreats to the original "The Godfather" theme, as if nothing has happened. And this is only the beginning. "Der Golem" is pure death metal battery, portraying Mike Patton as one of the most prolific vocalists ever. Dave Lombardo gets to show his jazz inspirations with ever-ringing crash cymbals and head-spinning drum rolls. Effect-laden soundscapes push the aggressive piece into a much unexpected realm, featuring Patton's beast-like grunts and tortured screams in a mini-second. As if that's not enough, Lombardo, Osbourne and Dunn quickly team up to create a Meshuggah-like ending, so precise yet so heavy. It's not all extreme vocals though. On the contrary, "Experiment in Terror" and "Spider Baby" are just two of the songs that put Patton's more humourous side to the fore. Epic and calm, the former has him singing (happily) almost like a woman; whereas the latter is centred entirely around Dunn's majestic bass and comprised of predominantly spoken vocals (some of which are hummed) and eerie keyboards. Patton also displays more of his versatility on "Charade", complete with church organs, African rhythms (Lombardo playing hand drums?), and more woman-like singing. The cinematic quality; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Temple Of The Dog; Brand: Temple of the Dog; Review: Temple of the Dog was a one-off project which was started when Soundgarden's Christ Cornell and Matt Cameron hooked up with Mother Love Bone members Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard, as well the then-unknown vocalist Eddie Vedder and guitarist Mike McCready. Some of these members would later go on to form Pearl Jam and upon releasing their highly acclaimed debut Ten, this would also reflect on the sales of Temple of the Dog, parachuting the release to platinum status. This is a tribute to the late Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood who died of an overdose and happened to be a close friend of Cornell's. Cornell is the primary songwriter on the album and all his lyrics mourn Wood's death or were inspired by stories of loss and addiction. The first two tracks, "Say Hello 2 Heaven" and "Reach Down", are also the strongest pieces. Not only do they display Cornell's amazing vocal talents, they are also very well-written and powerful compositions. "Say Hello 2 Heaven" would become one of the album's hits and is to this day considered among Cornell's best moments. The elegiac blues guitars and mournful vocals pull at the heart strings and when Cornell's uncontrolled screaming induces goose bumps. "Reach Down" is over eleven minutes, but you never know how fast it's over. The bass is more prominent on this piece and Cornell delivers the lyrics like a blues singer. There is an extensive instrumental section, allowing Cameron's drums to stand out together with the duelling guitars playing off each other, and abusing the wah pedal. The song's climax is the final second, suggesting not a single second of the piece is overplayed nor wasted. The song that pushed the album to the charts was "Hunger Strike", featuring Eddie Vedder on backing vocals. Even though Vedder sings on a total of three songs on this album, his work on "Hunger Strike" is the most noticeable. His expressive tenor voice does a great job complementing Cornell's more throaty and bluesy singing. The duo particularly shine during the chorus and the vocal harmonies are both amazing and emotive. The guitar melody that supplements their singing is also among the best on this disc. Interestingly, "Call Me a Dog" is severely overlooked by some fans even though it is another standout number. Complete with hammering blues piano, elegiac guitar themes, and heart-wrenching vocals, the song also features a very moving solo at the end. "Times of Trouble" follows in a similar vein, addressing addiction as its subject matter, and featuring both piano and harmonica to add more texture. This being a tribute album lamenting the loss of a close friend, most of the songs are slow and bleak. Highlighted by plenty of blues licks and melancholic vocals, none of the songs are as heavy as some of the stuff on Soundgarden or Pearl Jam albums. However, there are still a couple of tracks where the band churns out some rocking leads and rhythms. The somewhat funky bass on "Pushin Forward Back", one of the few tracks with contribution from other; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Last Fair Deal Gone Down; Brand: Katatonia; Review: It is highly likely that the title for this album may have been inspired by a song of blues god Robert Johnson who provided endless inspiration to early rock icons, including Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton. Though musically Last Fair Deal Gone Down bears little to no resemblance to Johnson, the Katatonia guys have always been interested in blues, particularly during their stoner rock period. A prime example of the genre, Last Fair Deal Gone Down not only marks the breakthrough of Katatonia, but it is also arguably their most important release post-Brave Murder Day. Blending the band's melancholic roots with their new-found interest in modern darkness, the album is also the first disc the band produced by themselves. Upon its release, Last Fair Deal Gone Down was Katatonia's thickest and most layered work to date. It would be safe to say this is the album where Katatonia found their true self. Vocalist Jonas Renkse provides his finest vocal performance, delivering the depressing lyrics convincingly and making the listener believe. Guitarist Nystrom opts for a wider scope of songwriting, unafraid to delve into all kinds of genres, from rock to pop to progressive. Gone are the band's earlier doom metal leanings; this disc sees the band turning their face to other inspirations, including the Cure, Tool, and even Porcupine Tree. The album was originally intended for a Steven Wilson signature production; however, Renkse and Nystrom later decided to handle the work on their own with stunning results. That said, there are still some subtle Porcupine Tree-like moments on the album, such as "Chrome" and the epic "The Future of Speech", both featuring processed vocals alternating between Renkse's more direct and clean delivery. The songs are filled with airy Mellotron sounds floating above the central instruments, most of which are a combination of delicate acoustic guitars, prominent bass, and contrasts between slow and heavy choruses. From a melody point of view, again Last Fair Deal Gone Down boasts excellent harmonies, both produced through Nystrom and Norrman's guitar work and Renkse's awe-inspiring harmonies. This is always carefully supplemented by a rhythm-conscious drum and bass hybrid. Never before was the bass employed as such a main instrument in Katatonia songs; "We Must Bury You" and "Clean Today" are defined by such bass and drum contribution that help thicken the moody soundscape. The vocals on "Clean Today" are particularly striking, brimming with confidence, whilst the echoic dual guitar harmonies constantly push the piece in unexpected directions. The diverse nature of the album is most effective during the minor hit "Teargas", a perfect representative of the new Katatonia sound, complete with varied vocal styles (again some Porcupine Tree vibe here), a cool acoustic build-up, terrific drum fills, excellent harmonies, and engaging waves of guitar sounds. It seems like a dangerous experiment, but Katatonia makes it work. On the more straightforward yet catchier front, "I Transpire" is basically Katatonia-style pop music, accentuated by quiet verse and really heavy chorus contrasts, with the vocals being amazing once again. On the effect-laden "Sweet Nurse", however, distinctive; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Towers of Avarice; Brand: Zero Hour; Review: Zero Hour's second album, The Towers of Avarice, is possibly the most essential technical prog metal album of the millennium. It differs vastly from other bands' works in that it is characterized by an instantly recognisable songwriting aura, with machine-like instrument precision, incredibly haunting vocals, terrific lyrics, and superb production. In short, it offers everything fans of technical progressive metal expect. It is uncompromisingly heavy and capped by relentless riffage, excellent drum and bass work, and minimal keyboards to achieve atmosphere. However, rather than opting for one-dimensional, single-minded technical prowess, their music also presents a strong emotional impact from start to finish. A curious concept about a society becoming enslaved to industrialist/capitalist ideals where a self-proclaimed saviour named Subterranean struggles to liberate them, the album starts and finishes in the exact same way. The distant key swells that open "The Towers of Avarice" reappear on the final song's intro, "The Ghosts of Dawn", to achieve unity. Musically, however, the pieces are polar opposites. The title track is a fierce number, going through several movements and featuring innumerable riff permutations by the Tipton brothers. It's a slow, haunting start on keyboards with an amazing riff following it and eventually becoming the central instrument. Behind Jasun Tipton's amazing riffs explodes his brother's phenomenal bass groove, and immediately after, Mike Guy lays down pounding drum beats. The trio continue to play the riff till it sinks in before Jasun Tipton displays his impressive sweeping, ever so briefly. Around the 2:20 mark, just as one wonders what the singer sounds like, Erik Rosvold makes his first appearance, putting aside any and all worries that Zero Hour may be another of those prog bands with great music and a horrendous vocalist. On the contrary, Rosvold is among the most talented and versatile vocalists in the genre, exuding an intense hybrid of melodicicm and aggression, and delivering in a very clear, almost Dio-like tone. Shifting from raspy to crystalline vocals, he also does some narration during the song's cold, tranquil breakdown.* "The Subterranean" is equally heavy; it begins with a choppy, muted riff and prominent bass and drum attacks before it all disappears under a hugely melodic guitar theme that exalts Rosvold's majestic screams. Harsher and heavier staccato riffs return to the centre of the track for a superlative finale. "Strategem" is almost entirely bass driven, decorated with sprinkles of keyboards in the intro and laser-precise guitars strung across. Full of asymmetric rhythm shifts, this may be the most complex song on the album. It is busy with great breakdowns, more Becker-like sweeping, and sudden tempo changes. At its heaviest and most crushing moment, the song breaks into eerie silences filled with gentle keyboards and clean, melodic vocals. Rosvold's "Drop drop drop and liquify, I'll give the world to you, drop drop drop to sanctify, I promise only truth" quite possibly being the most moving vocal melody on the album. Not only is it memorable, but Rosvold's enunciation makes it all the more powerful as well. Back to an aggressive final section, he sings in an angry tone; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reach; Brand: Survivor; Review: Yes, Jim Peterik is missing in the reformed Survivor lineup. But vocalist Jimi Jamison, guitarist Frankie Sullivan and drummer Marc Droubay are here to recapture the magic this amazing band was known for in the 80's. While it is a given their writing without Peterik cannot be the same, Reach is certainly a much better effort than some people give it credit. Unlike some other reunion bands updating their sounds with inappropriate elements and trying to sound like the current "hip" groups, Survivor's hallmark style is fully intact on this disc. Melody is still at the forefront of their writing, with beautiful piano, acoustic and electric guitar, pumping bass, and most importantly soaring vocals supplementing it. Jamison sounds great as always, particularly on the classic Survivor opener "Reach", pop-rock at its best, packed with melodic choruses and a climactic guitar solo from Frankie Sullivan. They go for a heavier rocker on the next piece "Fire Makes Steel", utilising multi-track vocals and plenty of guitar riffs. Not too different is the other rocker "Give Me the Word", which finds them returning to their 80's pop-rock mould, with excellent acoustic guitars blending into blues-infused leads. But it is also the essential love ballads that complement each Survivor disc that will appeal to the listener. Both the comparatively modern-tinged "Seconds Away" and "One More Chance" are exactly what the fans have been waiting for. The first piece has a cool, looped drum rhythm to it alongside weird percussion; whilst "One More Chance" is the powerful acoustic ballad. That said, the album's highpoint may be "Rhythm of Your Heart", a song so intense and passionate one can't help but truly respect these guys' songwriting skills. Of the twelve tracks, two are sung by guitarist Frankie Sullivan: the highly energetic "Nevertheless" with its positive lyrical message and fat bass underpinning; and "Talkin' 'Bout Love", which proves Sullivan is still able to craft love songs with lots of vocal harmonies and an upbeat vibe to it. Also worthy of mention is the final song "Home", featuring great lyrics delivered atop a nice piano melody in a slightly bluesy tone. Survivor is back and Reach sees them sticking to what they can do best: writing powerful songs with big hooks, melodies and dramatic vocals.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Real Thing; Brand: Faith No More; Review: Consider these amazing vocalists: Bruce Dickinson, James Labrie, Ray Alder, Zak Stevens, Matt Barlow, and last but not least the amazing Mike Patton. Any idea what they all have in common? None of them were the original/founding members of their respective bands, yet so tremendous was their input that they simply all helped shapen up the genres in which they sang songs. Such was the case when Mike Patton was asked to replace the original Faith No More vocalist. However, as he joined just before the recordings of the album, we'd get to see see his insane and all-encompassing Mr Bungle vision appear more vividly on the following disc. The Real Thing is the third Faith No More album, but possibly their biggest mark in the record industry along with their folow-up to this one, Angel Dust. With the inclusion of vocal deity Mike Patton, the album became a major hit, partly due to the success of their biggest-ever single "Epic", one of the most appropriately titled songs ever, living up to its name. With its heavy fusion of funky bass work, majestic synths, and incredibly varied vocal stylings, the piece gives a good idea of what Faith No More was about in 1989, moving from energetic riffs to melodic passages, catchy hooks, and ending with a beautiful solo piano coda. That said, the other ten songs are equally important to this album's success, rendering it among the most influencial pieces of music ever and spawning a large part of the nu-metal scene (with some truly horrendous acts) and superb bands and musicians, including Pain of Salvation and Devin Townsend. With that noted, if you are only familiar with Faith No More because of their "Epic" video, you need to give The Real Thing a good listen. Its diverse nature, amazing songmanship, and terrific songwriting were truly ground-breaking given the time of its release. The fiercely melodic synth patterns on "From Out of Nowhere" emphasized Patton's catchy vocal skills; while the heavy "Falling to Pieces" introduced Billy Gould's mesmerizing funky bass lines peeking through layered synth fogs. The bass sound is huge, especially during the brief solo section, and feature him doing some nimble slaps and formulating the classic Faith No More sound. On another note, "Surprise! You're Dead!" is a piece that combines the band's humourous and aggressive elements; stomping guitar chords crash over cheesy lyrics (hence the Devin Townsend comparison above). The band is also capable of crafting atmosphere like no other. The mostly acoustic-driven "Zombie Eaters", supplemented by lucid synth layers in its first half and crushing rhythm slam in the second, is actually a very moving ballad given Patton's indelible vocal performance. The band digs deeper, highlighting their progressive and instrumental abilities on the eight-plus-minute title track. Mike Bordin's drumming is beyond amazing, so restraint yet so powerful. Roddy Bottum on keyboards is the master of sound effects and waves of noise, creating tense silences and frenetic interplay. Jim Martin on guitars to this day remains among the most overlooked players in history; he has a style all; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost Horizons; Brand: Luca Turilli; Review: Before Luca Turilli formed Rhapsody with keyboardist Alex Staropoli, he actually studied piano. However, after the tremendous success of Rhapsody, he focused on guitar (which he had also mastered before), still retaining his love for classical music, dynamic arrangements, and huge orchestral sections. As years passed with lots of Rhapsody and solo albums, Turilli finally decided to go back to his roots, and form a new band where he'd fully immerse himself in piano and keyboard. He put together a new band which he called Luca Turilli's Dreamquest and also wants to take his music on Lost Horizons to a live setting as well. The album's first single "Virus" kicks off with a very electronic keyboard sequencing by Turilli before the semi-operatic female vocals kick in. The song is quite fast-paced compared to the subsequent pieces, but it does feature enough space for Turilli to experiment with electronic soundscapes. "Dreamquest" is a more laidback number, with a huge symphonic backdrop, and while the singer does a good job, she seems a bit inadequate for this type of singing. I wonder what it'd be like if Tarja Turunen would guest on a future Dreamquest project now that she is no longer in Nightwish. Some of these songs would have worked much better with a more capable singer. That said, the track is still satisfactory, and the blues-tinged guitar solo is pretty cool. On "Lost Horizons", you'll hear a good dose of Arabic chanting, a modern production, weird sound effects, and melodic vocal lines; while "Sospiro Divino" features Italian operatic vocals atop classical piano that then turn into meticulously arranged symphonic sections. Oddly, the vocals on "Shades of Eternity" are highly processed for reasons I can't understand. If Turilli meant to make this song more experimental by that, I doubt it helped much. Actually much of the album is a bit too flat and falls behind Turilli's solo work and Rhapsody too. It's great that he wants to explore a new field, but I feel these songs could use more depth and developed ideas, and definitely better written vocal parts. Still, my guess is that Lost Horizons will sit well with most Rhapsody fans. I just happen to think The Infinite Wonders of Creation is much better than this.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blood of the Snake; Brand: Derek Sherinian; Review: While it is undeniable that Derek Sherinian has an incredibly impressive career as a keyboardist, with stints that include KISS, Alice Cooper, and Dream Theater, what truly puts his talents in display has always been his solo material. Albums like Planet X, Inertia and Black Utopia are all masterpieces of instrumental music with rapid-fire guitar riffs, mind-bending solos, and excellent songwriting. Blood of the Snake, his fifth release, also sees Sherinian teaming up with some of the greatest guitar players in the world, while it also allows him to explore the depths of world music, including his Armenian roots. New to the fold is Dream Theater's John Petrucci, playing on the opening song "Czar of Steel". One of the best cuts on the disc, it has a cool Jeff Beck vibe to it, utilising husky bass work and groovy guitar riffs, and a memorable main melody. Petrucci and Sherinian trade off insane solos, as Tony Franklin's fretless bass and Simon Phillips' drumming form the rhythmic backbone of the piece. "Man With No Name" features Zakk Wylde both on guitars and lead vocals, something uncommon for Derek Sherinian. Wylde does a great job building a thick, Sabbath-style atmosphere as he also sings almost identical to Ozzy Osbourne on the first couple of Sabbath releases. The song could be a perfect tribute to their influences had it not been for the middle part featuring a nice synth hook (which is later repeated by Wylde's vocals) and a smooth piano solo. Add to this this great violin courtesy of Jerry Goodman of Mahavishnu Orchestra fame and "Man With No Name" turns into a cool Derek Sherinian number. One of the most diverse Derek Sherinian albums, Blood of the Snake contains a wide range of material. Songs like "Been Here Before" and "On the Moon" are among the slower, more emotional pieces. Both of them feature Brad Gillis on guitar, duelling with Zakk Wylde on the former and exchanging melodies with Sherinian on the latter, which is all round a cool jazz piece complete with saxophone, synth effects, and elaborate piano. On the heavier front, Yngwie Malmsteen and Zakk Wylde appear on the ambitious title track, starting with a fuzzy synth patch and building to Wylde's trademark riffs and Malmsteen's super fast lead solo, arguably the best on this disc. Not only is the lead work frenetic, it also boasts a lot of melody before Sherinian chimes in to create a desolate, almost doomy ending. The duo also tear it up on "The Monsoon", where Wylde's mercilessly heavy riffs contrast Malmsteen's fluid neoclassical playing. This song also has excellent drumming and begins and closes with a beautiful oriental melody. As if that's not enough, the Swedish guitar virtuoso also appears on the appropriately titled "Viking Massacre", which, except for the amazing symphonic backdrop and 70's-styled analog keys, would feel at home on any Malmsteen album. The two most interesting songs, on the other hand, are the fusion jazz of "Phantom Shuffle", driven entirely by a wicked sax lead, funky bass, and improvised guitar and synth licks;; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silent Nation; Brand: Asia; Review: Silent Nation, the first album in Asia's discography whose title doesn't start and end with an "A", also marks in many ways a great turn in their career. It is quite shocking how severely this album has been criticised by their fan base, most of whom are still complaining about the departure of Wetton some twenty years ago. The band has been releasing albums with John Payne since the early 90's, but some simply couldn't deal with it and continue to bash the band for their lineup rather than musical output. That is very sad indeed, considering Silent Nation is easily one of the strongest Asia albums, ever. I will admit that Asia will never recapture the sound on their first three discs without the original members, but one must be crazy to deny that some of their work with Payne in the 90's has been consistent through and through. Silent Nation is without doubt the darkest and most unique album in their catalog. Geoff Downes, the only original member, may be displaying his most linear synth playing in the band yet, opting for more direct yet also arresting tones. The music is no where near the symphonic pop rock once it was; on the contrary, almost all the songs are built on Payne's rich voice and Downess' textured playing. Their songwriting still recalls the band's 80's pop rock anthems with huge choruses and memorable melodies. Songs like the finely arranged "What About Love" and the strongly melodic "Long Way from Home" are chock full of beautiful synth and piano melodies, deeply moving vocal harmonies, and some crunchy guitar accents. New guitarist Guthrie Govan is a welcome addition to the lineup, as he supplies incredible guitar work that was noticably missing on their previous release. Besides playing indelible solos, he also brings a great melodic sensibility and mirage-like guitars that are planted beneath Downess' first-class synth patches. The absolutely smashing ballad "Blue Moon Monday" would become an instant hit if there was any justice in the music business, as it ranks up right there with their best songs ever. Despite the composition seeming very planned out, Payne's nuanced and expressive singing (which I am sure must have influenced the likes of Jorn Lande a great deal) demands full attention. Surrounded by varied synth sounds and rising organs, the chorus of this track is simply stunning in its effect. After a stubborn bass line and sparse key strokes, everything cuts out for a mini-second creating utter silence, only to erupt into husky melodious singing and then a sweet acoustic passage with folky synths backing everything up. More on the guitar front, "Gone Too Far", a song that also stands out for its socially conscious lyrical message, sees guitarist Govan playing two solos, the first one being relatively short yet totally addictive and the second one being the masterwork of the album with its massive build-up into a terrific climax. Also worth checking out is Govan's versatile playing on the moody title track, complete with gentle acoustic guitars, panoramic synths, and excellent vocals. The; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ; Brand: Tool; Review: Aenima is Tool's major breakthrough work. Compared to its predecessors, Aenima is a completely different beast. It is a lot more complex and harder to digest. It may take months or even years to fully absorb it, and you are well advised to start with Undertow if you have never heard any Tool before. Once you've internalised their earlier work, you can come to Aenima and spend quite some time with it. Otherwise, like some people tend to do, you may just write them off as a pretentious act who are terribly overrated by their fan base, which would be a big loss for you. On Aenima, Tool continues to explore the depths of the human mind and soul, touching on themes such as pain, frustration, guilt, and social decay. As with every Tool album, the band puts forth thought-provoking lyrical messages in their songs, rendering them more powerful through creative musical passages and compositional ideas. Even though former bassist Paul D'Amour is now replaced by Justin Chancellor, the bass parts on this album do not lack a single thing. On the contrary, Chancellor's bass, along with Danny Carey's precise drum work, is still central to the songs, as Adam Jones mostly builds his guitars around his ferocious rhythms. Starting with "Stinkfist", the album opener, the bass sound is ever-present, deep and growling throughout its five-minute course, amidst crackling effects, cool percussion, and effect-laden guitar sounds all of which serve to highlight vocalist Maynard Keenan's light verse/heavy chorus dynamics. While I agree Tool's music is quite hard to decipher on first listen, the diversity in each song is astonishing. Each piece is defined by thick threads of colours and inventive instrumentation. The weird sounds and eerie percussion in the intro of "Eulogy" suggest a somewhat droney track, but with the arrival of a big bass motif and processed vocals, the tone escalates to impossible heights, resolving with a richly melodic chorus and dense guitar theme blanketing the almost incomprehensible spoken rants atop weird effects and clear bass lines. Maynard's singing is more versatile than both Opiate and Undertow combined. He goes from fragile low registers to tortured screaming on "H." in order to match the flow of the song. This song has an amazing intro with awesome drumming and there is a killer guitar line in the middle where the same note is repeated over and over until it becomes addictive. This dreamy aura is then replaced as the band pick up pace and aggression towards the end. There are fifteen tracks on the album, but not all of them are songs per se. Some of the pieces have been put on the disc to enhance the unity, such as the static hissing of "Useful Idiot"; the weird piano track "Message to Harry Manback", where an Italian-accented immigrant who has allegedly been deported from the country relays a hateful message about the American government; the slightly goofy analog synths of "Intermission"; or the hysterically crying babies with sickening guitar feedback of "Cesaro Summability" are all pieces under the two-minute mark. The most; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ; Brand: Alice In Chains; Review: Of the four great bands from Seattle, Alice In Chains are easily the darkest and heaviest. Though they have been lumped into the "grunge" category, the band actually formed in the mid-80's, releasing their debut album a year before Nirvana's Nevermind. Without getting into unnecessary comparisons between the two bands, upon Nevermind's significant breakthrough in early 90's music, Alice In Chains' label also started to promote them as an alternative band. That said, musically they are worlds apart. While carrying some of the genre's characteristics, Alice In Chains encompasses deeper musical thought, utilising heavy fretwork and delving fearlessly into the path paved by Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin in the 1970's. Dirt is the band's crowning achievement and arguably better than anything that came out from the Seattle bands. It would be hard to imagine any dedicated metalhead who hasn't heard this album. The songwriting duo of Alice In Chains, consisting of guitarist Jerry Cantrell and vocalist Layne Staley, is among the most exciting and powerful of the early US heavy metal scene. The duo penned songs reeking of pain and misery, but rather than merely sticking to angst-ridden methods, they also backed their material with impressive musical traits, both vocally and instrumentally. Cantrell especially surpasses any guitarist of his era, not so much with his technique but with his unmatched vision of composition. Unlike many others, he was not afraid to insert well-written lead solos into his craft, merging both his love for odd rhythm work and fluid, blues-inflected leads. Starting with the first track "Them Bones", a short but powerful statement, Cantrell plants hugely melodic lead threads underneath Staley's painful screams and the rumbling bass and drum anchor. His songs are graced by sludgy guitar build-ups, best heard on "Sickman", starting out with a phenomenal drum intro by Sean Kinney and blending into Cantrell's long, sustained guitar notes that bleed atmosphere. The song goes through both sickeningly heavy passages and dark acoustic sections. Complementing Layne's unique singing is some spoken words and evil laughters distantly echoing in the mix. The song climaxes with a beautiful Zeppelin-esque solo, something only Soundgarden could come close to of other bands. Layne Staley remains the most honest lyricist and vocalist among his peers. His vocal style is ultimately versatile, as he effortlessly switches from aggressive lines on "Dam That River" to desperate croons on the underrated "Rain When I Die", possibly his most heartfelt performance ever. A true collaborative effort, this is a song with weird guitar effects by Cantrell (lots of killer wah pedals and vibrato on this track), gloomy lyrics, sturdy bass, and incredible vocals. The chorus is most striking and his honest tone makes the listener literally believe when he delivers the lyrics. This album produced most of the band's hits. "Rooster" is a personal piece about Cantrell's father who fought in the Vietnam war, alternating between nimble acoustic guitars and explosive riffs. This song also features excellent backing vocals which are achingly beautiful. The composition is most consistent, following a subtle thematic development where Staley hums Cantrell's melody both in; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mirrors; Brand: Misery Signals; Review: I've never been a fan of hardcore, but I'm able to tell the difference between horrific clone bands and those which are actually doing something that sets them apart from the majority. This is the category in which Misery Signals belongs. Despite their changes of vocalists, which is considered a breaking point by some, I feel the band projects nothing but impressive sonic quality. I have no idea what the former singer sounds like, as Mirrors is the one and only album I've heard from Misery Signals. New singer Karl Schubach is a perfect match to the band's raging, slightly complex and melodic brand of hardcore. He has a great raspy voice that is a pre-requisite for this form of music. Also, he can move into a calm, clean tone and deliver gripping harmonies. Although Schubach does most of the vocals on the album on his own, he is also occasionally backed up with killer harmonies from his band mates. On track five, "One Day I'll Stay Home", Patrick Stump makes a guest appearance on vocals, rendering the piece totally powerful. From its choppy opening riffs to the mesmerizing clean-vocal passages and multiple vocal harmonies, the song adds to the album's diversity. Another song, "Reverence Lost", is also a melodic statement in the brutal realms of hardcore and it also offerse a section with Schubach's clean vocals. However, his most impressive performance is on the title track: both passionate and aggressive, the way he repeats the "There is a choice to make" line becomes ultimately intense towards the end. Drummer Branden Morgan has a great technique which he complements with a killer tone. The drum beat underlying a brooding guitar harmony on "Face Yourself" and the rolling, slightly technical drum workout on "The Failsafe" highlight his drumming talents. This song is one of the album's best. It goes from cool acoustic breaks to spattering cymbals and a strong mix of clean and screamed vocals. The band delves into heavier territory on "Post Collapse" where Schubach's vocals sound like almost death metal growls atop crushing machine-gun riffery. The three guitar players, Ryan Morgan, Stuart Ross, and Kyle Johnson, provide melodic guitar lines on "Sword of Eyes" while "An Offering to the Insatiable Sons of God (Butcher)" could as well appear on an Isis or Mastodon disc considering its repetitive, dense guitar drills that transform into an ominous drone at the end. The guitar players are unafraid to inject lots of effects into their sound and experiment with a multitude of sonics. On the bass front, "Something Was Always Missing But It Was Never You" grooves madly and exerts a deep, blissful bass solo. The production is great and helps glorify the music. Also of note is the interesting member pictures in the booklet - they're definitely worth checking out.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Adversary; Brand: Ihsahn; Review: A solo album in the truest sense of the word, The Adversary has Ihsahn playing all instruments except the drums and doing all kinds of vocals from his harrowing deep growls to incredibly grim screams and fantastic clean vocals. Unlike the earlier Emperor material such as In the Nightside Eclipse and Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, Ihsahn's vocals are upfront on The Adversary as with Peccatum. Not to say the guitar work is subdued here, but the vocals are certainly not behind the guitars as on his early works. Though all Emperor material is more violent and wicked than this disc, The Adversary is by far his most progressive work. Never before did he explore more creative rhyhmic tangents, blending a multitude of vocal and musical styles, and providing such intense vocal harmonies. It is impossible not to mention Emperor when reviewing The Adversary. After all, the songwriter of both this band and solo record is the same musical soul. Those who are disappointed with this album are the ones who were expecting him to break new ground and re-invent the wheel. I doubt that was Ihsahn's goal upon writing these songs to begin with. The material presented here borrows from all of his musical phases. There are clear nods to his earlier Emperor material where crushing guitars blend with hypnotic keyboards and maniacal screams on "Invocation", a great album opener. The tremelo picking on this piece is nothing short of stellar, especially during the part they disappear under a soaring synth motif. Complete with enchanting acoustic passages and also Ihsahn's expressive clean voice, this is easily one of the album's best songs. Besides the heavy and punishing material, there are also references to his past with Peccatum and Prometheus meets IX Equilibrium period Emperor as well as his main influences from way back. All of this is kept within a wide spectrum of avant-garde style progressive signature; thus calling the album merely "black metal" wouldn't do it justice. There is simply more to it. Remarkable diversity is achieved on the unexpectedly melodic "Called by the Fire", a song that sees Ihsahn paying a little tribute to the great King Diamond using his unique falsettos atop spattering cymbals and energetic guitar rhythms. This is arguably Ihsahn's most melodic vocal performance in his career, where each line becomes instantly memorable, as he alternates between layered clean harmonies and effective shrieks. There is a fantastic guitar solo in the climax of the piece as well. "Citizen" recalls Arcturus, for its use of non-standard metal ideas. Following fast, tremelo guitars and powerful blast beats from Asgeir Mickelson, Ihsahn delves into a beautiful piano solo before ripping screams are filtered through chunky guitar harmonies. The guitar tone on the album is amazing. Though a bit dry from a production standpoint, it serves its purpose perfectly. On "Homecoming", sung by Ulver's Garm with his incredible mellow voice, the clean guitar riffs are indelible. The tone is thick and intense, surrounded by ominous keyboards and sporadic bass lines. This song is written to perfection and far more; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Army of One; Brand: Riot; Review: US heavy metal legends Riot are celebrating their 30th year in the heavy metal world since their inception in 1976. Though they have gone through numerous member changes over the years, the band has maintained a fairly consistent lineup since the early 90's. With the exception of drummers, from the amazing Bobby Jarzombek to the super awesome John Macaluso and back to Jarzombek (only to be replaced by Virgin Steele drummer Frank Gilchrist on this album), the guitar tandem of Mark Reale and Mike Flyntz, the underrated bassist Pete Perez, and the amazing vocalist Mike DiMeo have defined the sound and character of Riot for the last ten-plus years. Despite their unquestioned musical strength, Riot has never been too big Stateside since the very early 80's. They have had a loyal following in Europe in the 90's and Japan for the past couple of years. From traditional heavy metal discs to more melody-driven power-inspired releases, Riot have morphed from album to album, opting for a decidedly more European sound. Army of One certainly retains this direction, but also harkens back to a noticeable American rock sound during certain moments. The band has without doubt undergone a less heavy yet more hard rock-inspired phase recently, with strong reference points being Rainbow and Deep Purple. The first song, also one of the fastest and most energetic on the album, pounds you into submission with a Dio era Rainbow vibe going on, utilising killer dual lead work, and ferocious bass playing. And while there are plenty of heavy numbers on the album, DiMeo's vocals veer off into David Coverdale meets Joe Lynn Turner territory in many places. The hard-hitting, groove-filled riffs of "One More Alibi" would be a good example. The instrumentation is loud and heavy, but DiMeo tries an unmistakable 80's style recalling the voice of Jorn Lande quite a bit. "It All Falls Down", another highlight of the disc, is also comprised of ruthless riffage with a stomping drive and clean-toned harmonies. Surrounded by big crescendos, DiMeo lets out impressive screams through and through, but he still chooses to stick to the 80's more so than he has in years. On the more hard rock pieces, such as "Knocking at My Door", evoking Sammy Hagar's solo material thanks to its backing vocals and rising keyboards; or the bluesy "Helpin' Hand" are stamped with repeating choruses and big guitar hooks. "Alive in the City", in particular, has a very heavy southern flair to it, in an almost American folk kind of vein. It does deviate from that after the main riff, however, and lets Pete Perez drive it with thick, pumping bass riffery. Those interested in the band's heavier work displayed on albums like Inishmore should have a listen to "The Mystic", featuring awesome guitar work, some really agressive singing, and long instrumental breaks. Even the material recalls the days with Jarzombek behind the skins. Sadly, while the best on the album, this song does not fit the overall flow of Army of One. It feels far too isolated among all the multiple-chorus 80's; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Window to the Soul; Brand: GPS; Review: When news that the upcoming Asia album was shelved due to the long-awaited Asia reunion, the band's long-time vocalist and co-songwriter John Payne had to leave the band along with guitarist Guthrie Govan and drummer Jay Schellen. Needless to say, it was a sad departure, considering Payne had been in the band for nearly fifteen years and sung on some of Asia's finest albums, including their much overlooked previous effort Silent Nation. Thankfully, Payne and his friends wasted no time in getting together and bringing in Spock's Beard's amazing keyboard player Ryo Okumoto to round out the lineup of their new band GPS. The result is a powerful debut. Window to the Soul is far from a typical supergroup album. It works on various levels. For starters, as would be expected, comparisons to Asia will be drawn whether they are true or not, but it should be no surprise that some of the songs carry the trademark Asia sound. However, it seems little or no material was transfered onto this record from Architect of Time, which was supposed to be the follow-up to Asia's dark work Silent Nation. This disc is a lot more guitar-friendly and features a different vocal style from John Payne. Gone are his crystal clear, deep vocals that perfectly defined the sound of Silent Nation. Rather, Payne uses a slightly more gritty tone while singing in order to match the guitar-driven material. This is not to say the keyboards have been relegated to a supporting role. On the contrary, Ryo Okumoto's work is nothing short of amazing. He makes an invaluable contribution to this album, utilising excellent Hammond organ, awesome string arrangements, beautiful piano work, and some really searing synth leads. Guthrie Govan is arguably the most underrated guitar virtuoso from England. Even though his technical ability on his instrument is right up there with the likes of Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson, little of it was displayed on his works with Asia. While still not as broad as his recent solo album, Window to the Soul has plenty of guitar crunch balancing out Okumoto's ethereal synth work, and also features lots of varied solos, from bluesy to funky to jazzy. Similarly, Payne's bass playing isn't as subdued as one some later Asia discs, he lets out lots of groovy licks that are complemented by Jay Schellen's confident drum beats. The first song "Window to the Soul" is also a great number that gives an overall summary about the album. Its slow and dark organ intro underscores Payne's deep, unmistakable vocals before a great rhythm drive of bass and drums enter the scene. As mentioned earlier, Payne's singing is a bit more aggressive fitting the musical environment seamlessly. The song ends with a great guitar and keyboard solo respectively. Govan's fretwork is both melodic and unconventional, delving into Vai territory in places; while Okumoto's extended piece is filled with exotic scales. On the longer songs, references to Asia can be heard on "New Jerusalem" during the clean midtempo vocal harmonies, but other than that, this song; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Burden of Truth; Brand: Circle II Circle; Review: Circle II Circle's previous effort The Middle of Nowhere was a let-down for some; gone were the band's amazing keyboard and piano arrangements, terrific lead playing, and even Zak Stevens' vocals seemed to suffer from the sub-par production. Compared to their debut album Watching in Silence, it just didn't have the staying power despite some really well-written numbers. On their third album Burden of Truth, it is obvious that Zak Stevens and his new band spent more time honing their sound. For starters, the production is absolutely classy, highlighting Zak Stevens' amazing vocals and melodies thoroughly. Andrew Lee and Evan Christopher's guitars have a lot more punch to them; the riffs are heavy and well-timed. Add to this the solid rhythm slam of drummer Robert T. Drennan and Paul Michael Stewart and you have a strong work of melodic metal. On the previous effort, Stewart's bass was the best thing, as they had mixed it a bit high and made it really audible. The guitar work, on the other hand, was less interesting; some of the solos seemed to drag on without developing into anything. This disc puts the band back on track. Starting with the ambitious "Who Am I To Be?", a Sava-like number, bringing forth dramatic piano and melodic guitar crunch and underpinning Stevens' impossibly amazing vocal harmonies. The rhythms provided through drums and the two brief guitar solos also add to the richness of the song. One of the most striking aspects of Burden of Truth is the way the guitars and vocals were arranged. Stevens apparently has made an effort to stray away from the paths of his former band; some of the songs he's written sound nothing like Savatage, which is a big plus. Rather, he's set out to do his own thing, and the result is more than satisfying. He knows how powerful his voice can be when backed up by melodic threads of guitar and the occasional keys, and that's what he does on songs like "A Matter of Time", "Heal You", and "Evermore". The songs are faster and more energetic. The soaring chorus of "Heal You" and the strong backing harmonies of "Evermore" will make excellent choices in a live setting. Both songs also have slightly rock-flavoured lead solos, unlike the more metallic, heavy explosions heard on their debut. Zak Stevens absolutely shines on "Revelations", one of his greatest achievements in Circle II Circle. The song begins with crushing staccato riffs in an almost thrash metal sense before dissolving into a sea of melodies. The guitar playing on this song is mind-blowingly beautiful; the short yet sweet tapping lick in the beginning of the intro brings to mind the late Criss Oliva circa Sava's Streets and it's really emotionally fatiguing in its aura. On the acoustic ballad "Your Reality", Stevens opts for clever dynamic shifts in mood and tempo, and makes it work perfectly. "Into the Black" and "Sentenced" find the band still retaining unmistakable Savatage characteristics, but unlike Watching in Silence, they really try to add their own spin to the pieces, which; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond; Brand: Zero Hour; Review: Following Zero Hour's indisputable 2001 masterpiece The Towers of Avarice, we had to wait four years for a follow-up. Sadly, by then, the band had parted ways with their amazing singer Erik Rosvold and had hired Fred Marshall for the A Fragile Mind sessions. In many ways a combination of the band's first two discs, A Fragile Mind saw the band utilising heavier keyboard work and a stronger focus on melodic vocal lines. That, of course, meant less guitar crunch and technical arrangements. I still stand by my opinion that A Fragile Mind is a very strong effort, but with the replacement of Marshall with former Power of Omens vocalist Chris Salinas, it was perfectly obvious that their next release would be a step forward in a heavier and more aggressive direction. Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond will be a huge surprise to those that discovered Zero Hour on their previous disc, but those who love Metamorphosis and especially The Towers of Avarice will rejoice. The band is back in action full force. Keyboards are almost non-existent; the music is once again formulated by the Tipton brothers' unmistakable rhythms and Mike Guy's forceful drum beats. Chris Salinas is a very different singer than both Rosvold and Marshall. Coming from the Geoff Tate school, I was curious how he would fit in Zero Hour's style. The songs on this album have definitely been written with Salinas in mind. Salinas not only wrote the lyrics for most of the songs together with Troy Tipton, he also has excellent vocal harmonies and melodies on this disc. However, don't go expecting he is constantly screaming or doing high register singing. On the contrary, this is easily his most versatile vocal performance ever. On the first two songs, "Face the Fear" and "The Falcon's Cry", the new Zero Hour sound is successfully introduced. Filled with chaotic bass and smashing rhythms, "Face the Fear" is highlighted by an incredible drum performance - perhaps Mike Guy's best in his recording career. His timing is so precise and tone so solid that it forms the backbone to the Tipton brothers' ferocious rhythm syncopation and Chris Salinas' powerful delivery. Moving from thunderous guitar passages to calm acoustic sections allows Salinas to showcase his spoken and whisper-like singing as well as his unique vocal phrases. As the music seethes and the guitars pick up momentum, Salinas shifts into agressive screams to enrich the dynamics. However, the song is far from single-minded aggression, as it's broken up by nice arpegeggiated acoustic sequences and chiming cymbal work. At the very end of the piece, when Salinas sings the line "The end is here" atop a dreamy melody, I get goose bumps, and I am convinced Chris Salinas is the future of Zero Hour. "The Falcon's Cry" is arguably the best prog song of the year. Its brutal riffage and solid bass lines strung across thick drum beats continue through the song's first half until an invigorating vocal section arrives. Salinas sings the lyrics in a way only the likes of Keith Sudano and Daniel; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Above The Weeping World; Brand: Insomnium; Review: I would have never thought Gothenburg-style melodic death metal would impress me so much again. The last time I really, really enjoyed albums like this was in the late 90's; and even though I have never grown away from the genre, I felt most releases of this style were far from exciting. Finally, Insomnium's third album Above the Weeping World has come along and taken me by storm. A great improvement over their previous albums, this disc will totally slay any death metal fan who likes his music both heavy and melodic. The best part about this album is its consistent heaviness. While Insomnium still heavily relies on the melodic quality of earlier In Flames and blend it with strong vocals, they have toned down on the ever-present acoustic transitions that permeated their earlier material. They still play lots of acoustic guitars on this release, but they are all brief sections in the songs rather than huge, drawn-out passages. Add to this the powerful vocal performance of Niilo Sevanen. I honestly can't imagine a better vocalist for this band; he exudes never-ending aggression, singing with tons of emotion, and unlike most other bands in this vein, he doesn't switch to redundant clean vocal harmonies. Rather, he likes to alternate between a more midranged growl and painful screams, depending on the mood of the song, and he will also use goose bump-inducing whispers. "Drawn to Black" would be a great choice to represent the general sound of the album, as it combines every aspect of Insomnium to great effect. Its epic-scale intro suggests this band can easily kill most of those Children of Bodom clones who are simply adding in some clean vocals to the mix alongside generic, excessive folk elements that simply don't mesh. Insomnium, on the other hand, is capable of utilising forceful dual guitar work with crushing riffery and explosive drum and bass battery. They really know how to compose death metal songs, adding in their own melodic signature to it. Despite coming from a distinct Gothenburg school of metal, their songs are undeniably stamped with the Finnish darkness fans have come to know ever since Sentenced's North from Here came out. These slower, more melancholic parts are mostly put forth during clean-toned acoustic sections which are underpinned by Sevanen's clever bass lines and harrowing whispers. Another essential ingredient on the album is Markus Hirvonen's drumming. Very different from the norm, Hirvonen prefers to inject a sparse beat to each piece to basically guide the entire composition, much like he does on the amazing intro of "The Gale", where his rhythm work lays down a very atypical foundation to the otherwise melodically rich guitar harmony. Same thing happens on "Mortal Share", with a great drum rhythm placed atop fatal twin guitars; or the superb anthem "Change of Heart", one of the more compact songs that has a lullaby-like beginning. At one point, when the band recede to a great acoustic break, Hirvonen simply lays down a neat dolo on top of it. Some of the finest material on the album; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Transcendental; Brand: To Mera; Review: Few new bands can release killer debut albums like To-Mera. Formed only a year ago by Lee Barrett of Extreme Noise Terror and Julie Kiss of Without Face, To-Mera quickly grew into a full band with the addition of fantastic drummer Akos Pirisi, keyboardist Hugo Sheppard, and guitarist Tom Maclean, both of whom are schooled musicians. Sheppard's keyboard and piano playing lends the songs a very dynamic edge, often delving into classical and jazz territory, while Maclean's challenging fretwork is nothing short of mind-blowing. Not only is he technically superior to most prog bands' players, he also covers a wide spectrum of styles, fusing brutally heavy death metal-like riffs with intense, harmonically rich melodic signatures. Most female-fronted metal bands write material that undeniable gives off a gothic air, relying heavily on orchestrated keyboard parts with the occasional crunch-filled guitar work. Some listeners will be quick to compare To-Mera with the likes of Lacuna Coil and Within Temptation, and perhaps even Nightwish and The Gathering. Not that anything is wrong with these bands, but To-Mera is a completely different beast musically. For starters, they are crushingly heavy progressive metal, serving all aspects of this much stagnated genre, but they do inject calmer acoustic passages along with jazzy interludes into their craft as well. Vocalist Julie Kiss whose Eastern European accent lends her already dark voice an extra layer of depth and character is a great fit for the band. Her soft, fragile soprano-like vocals in the intro "Traces" turn into expressive and melodic singing on the haunting "Blood", putting her semi-operatic delivery on display. The somewhat thrashy intro and cool percussion bring in extra dynamics colliding with monstrous riffage and beguiling piano melodies. In its second half, the song launches into an instrumental landscape, merging slightly electronic synth work with super technical guitars and explosive bass. One of To-Mera's strongest aspects is their unbreakable rhythm battery. Drummer Ari Pirisi has officially become my new-found talent of the year. I don't know whether he played on other albums before, but his performance on Transcendental is awe-inspiring. He has the ability to inject ultra-complex Meshuggah-style polyrhthms into the dark "Obscure Oblivion", which starts out like a quasi-ballad decorated with killer jazz piano, but then morphs into a pulverizing number marked by weird stop-start sections and strong vocal harmonies. Then there is "Parfum", punctuated by tribal drumming a la Tool meets Dead Soul Tribe in a free-flowing avant-garde environment. Lee Barrett's bass solo is thick and chunky, underscoring Maclean's precise guitar work which alternates between complex, multi-segmented riffery and solemn acoustic moments. "Born of Ashes", arguably the song that highlights Julie Kiss' vocals the best, begins with a nice acoustic guitar that lends itself to vague folk references before Sheppard puts in a soaring synth patch that slowly blankets and surrounds the whole piece. The song is then carried into a maniacal instrumental frenzy with pounding drumming and rampaging bass, Maclean's lead guitar work at the end being the apex of everything. "Dreadful Angel" and the H.P. Lovecraft-inspired "Phantoms" are heavily jazz-infused, particularly during select moments.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stench of Redemption; Brand: Deicide; Review: A lot of musicians promise a kick-ass return if their last disc proves lackluster. Sadly though, once they're going downhill, their new album doesn't do much for their fans either. Thankfully, in Deicide's case, The Stench of Redemption more than meets the expectations, just as Glen Benton had promised. This has partly to do with the renewed lineup of the band. Long-time guitarists Eric and Brian Hoffman left the band in 2004 for personal reasons, and even though it was they who played on some of Deicide's most important releases, their departure has certainly motivated the rest of the band in a positive way. New guitarists, Jack Owen (ex-Cannibal Corpse) and Ralph Santolla (ex-Iced Earth, Death), have breathed new life into the band's music. The writing is tight and the performance rock-solid. If you like Benton's vocals and bass playing, there's no chance you will be disappointed here. Drummer Steve Asheim hasn't played like this for years. The album features crushing blast beats galore that won't let go from start to finish. The guitar tandem's barrage of direct riffage is grim yet melodic. Santolla's sense of melody seems to have been carried over; except that he hasn't played this fast and vicious in a long time. Both players lay down impressive solos, but it is their twin guitar harmonies and unison leads that make this album a real winner. This is one of the heaviest albums of the year, but it's all done within a melodic blueprint and an understanding of harmony. Besides the head-spinning shred fest on the title track, the duo also offer a mighty twin guitar riffage and complex stop-start moments. Other highlights include the monstrously epic opening of "Desecration", complete with raging growls and fast, melodic guitar runs, as well as some vague Nile-like eastern scales; the totally unapologetic "Homage for Satan", a song that recalls the band's earliest material in that it is relentlessly bleak and heavy; and the superb acoustic guitar resolution on the final song "The Lord's Sedition", which is not too common on a Deicide disc. The gloomy, atmospheric intro slowly builds to a mesmerizing twin guitar harmony that is both rich in numerous chord changes and rich melodic signatures. It almost feels like an excerpt from Ralf Santolla's solo album yet it fits the rest of the songs excellently. Once that melody is brilliantly executed, the band dives headlong into crushing aggression, highlighted by thick rhythms and wall-of-sound drums. This is one of the best albums Deicide have released in a long time. I hope they continue to make more music with their current lineup. US death metal doesn't get better than this.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Matter of Life and Death; Brand: Iron Maiden; Review: Every Iron Maiden album since Somewhere in Time initially received poor reviews and A Matter of Life and Death will be no different. It seems to me the Maiden albums, especially those with Bruce Dickinson on vocals, take a while to fully open up and envelop the listener if given repeat plays. Multiple listens can be utterly rewarding when listening to post-Blaze albums, as evidenced with the amazing Brave New World, one of the greatest comeback albums ever, and its heavy successor Dance of Death. Speaking of the band's previous two discs with Dickinson at the helm, it is basically impossible not to compare them with A Matter of Life and Death, as Maiden have carved their own niche and created their unique sound years ago. It is daft to expect them to deviate from a sound they made their own through years and years of dedicated work and do "something different". Do not listen to this album if that's what you are anticipating. This album is still built around the ideas and themes we've come to love Maiden over the years. Steve Harris still lays down numerous galloping riffs and goes back to utilising enchanting keyboards much like the ones on Brave New World. While Dance of Death found Iron Maiden striving for heavier musical statements, their new album sees them going back to the highly gripping melodic-signature writing of Brave New World and injecting that sound with the production values of The X Factor from the Blaze era. It is true that the mix and production of A Matter of Life and Death is no way similar to those heard on its predecessors. Kevin Shirley's engineering has rendered both Dickinson's vocals and the guitar team's tones several decibels lower than most CDs, but therefore, the music is not compressed the least bit and has more vivid dynamics. These mostly shine through during Harris and McBrain's rhythm arrangements, which are noticeably more natural sounding. Even though I'll take a better produced drum sound over this one any day of the week, for this particular disc, the human feel carried over is marvellous. McBrain plays in a relatively more straightforward style through most of the course of the album, but his time changes and crescendos are essential to the songs' flow. What's best about the album is that one will feel he knows all the songs upon first listen, since they are all injected with the classic Maiden signature, but further listens will attest to its diversity. Each new spin warrants something new, as it's virtually impossible not recognize the energy, maturity, and brilliance of this band. On the Gers/Harris-penned "The Pilgrim" and the brilliant final track "The Legacy", the folky, upbeat acoustic guitar lines function perfectly underneath Harris' pronounced bass and Dickinson's melodic singing. The former has a subtle eastern feel to it; while "The Legacy" is a prime example of Iron Maiden's darker songwriting. Almost like a leftover from The X Factor, this song is epic in both its size and execution. Surrounded by claustrophobic, suffocating production elements, it flows; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Void; Brand: Intronaut; Review: Void is a killer first full-length album from Los Angeles-based metallers Intronaut. The members of this band all have an impressive resume in that they also played in other bands, including the black metal act Thornlord, death metal band Exhumed, grindcore bands Phobia and Uphill Battle, and the sludgy metalcore ensemble Anubis Rising, among others. Intronaut sounds nothing like these bands though. It is more of a combination of these groups, but their music firmly lies in the sludge-driven metal area, much like Neurosis, Isis, and Mastodon. However, Intronaut writes faster songs that don't rely merely on creative riffs that are repeated endlessly; they like to juice their material up with strong rhythm combinations. Schooled bassist Joe Lester has studied all forms of music from jazz to funk to Indian tribal music, and he does a great job of weaving these elements into the songs. Drummer Danny Walker is equally vital in the band. His sparse, rhythm-conscious timing recalls greats like Tool's Danny Carey, but he also rips it up with intense double bass drums and high-speed beats, as he comes from a grindcore background. The duo dominate pretty much every song on the album, as they seem to be written around their ideas first and foremost. The vocals of Sacha Dunable and Leon del Muerte, both of whom also play the guitar, are screamed in a metalcore-ish way, but there is also a good deal of low, gutteral vocals that drive their music onto death metal paths. On the gloomy "Iceblocks", a song so perfectly titled, they play single strokes of acoustic guitars that sound cold and lonely. The notes echo forever until a jazz-meets-funk drive of bass and drums solo briefly takes the lead only to underscore the relatively deeper growls and a ferocious kick drum experiment. This comes as a huge surprise, considering most bands favour screamed vocals in such musical settings. Not to say Intronaut's vocals are devoid of vicious screaming; "A Monolithic Vulgarity" perfectly emphasizes the band's Mastodon influences, underlining their thick, carefully timed riffage and prominent bass that stands out much like those on Cynic and Atheist albums. Towards the end, drummer Danny Walker puts in a tribal drum solo atop clean-toned acoustic guitars, and the result is more than impressive. The dissonant "Gleamer" is filled with a smashing rhythm slam, noticeably heavier guitar riffery, and a cool, sludgy breakdown a la Isis' pre-Panopticon material. There are also significantly more complex chord progressions here, which seem to surround the band's atonal arrangements. The band opts for more technical elements on "Fault Lines", a song heavy on atmosphere and clean acoustic guitars. Despite the unusually complex multi-section guitar work, there are plenty of tense silences on this track coupled with weird drum syncopation and gurgling, independent sounding bass guitar. "Nostalgic Echo" is a song that continuously alternates between dense and crushing guitar crescendos and dreamy, pristine passages. The scream vocals on this song are amazing, as is its punishing finale. "Teledidonics" is an epic-sized cut, once again evocative of Tool's drummer in that Danny Walker takes a; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Matter of Life and Death; Brand: Iron Maiden; Review: Every Iron Maiden album since Somewhere in Time initially received poor reviews and A Matter of Life and Death will be no different. It seems to me the Maiden albums, especially those with Bruce Dickinson on vocals, take a while to fully open up and envelop the listener if given repeat plays. Multiple listens can be utterly rewarding when listening to post-Blaze albums, as evidenced with the amazing Brave New World, one of the greatest comeback albums ever, and its heavy successor Dance of Death. Speaking of the band's previous two discs with Dickinson at the helm, it is basically impossible not to compare them with A Matter of Life and Death, as Maiden have carved their own niche and created their unique sound years ago. It is daft to expect them to deviate from a sound they made their own through years and years of dedicated work and do "something different". Do not listen to this album if that's what you are anticipating. This album is still built around the ideas and themes we've come to love Maiden over the years. Steve Harris still lays down numerous galloping riffs and goes back to utilising enchanting keyboards much like the ones on Brave New World. While Dance of Death found Iron Maiden striving for heavier musical statements, their new album sees them going back to the highly gripping melodic-signature writing of Brave New World and injecting that sound with the production values of The X Factor from the Blaze era. It is true that the mix and production of A Matter of Life and Death is no way similar to those heard on its predecessors. Kevin Shirley's engineering has rendered both Dickinson's vocals and the guitar team's tones several decibels lower than most CDs, but therefore, the music is not compressed the least bit and has more vivid dynamics. These mostly shine through during Harris and McBrain's rhythm arrangements, which are noticeably more natural sounding. Even though I'll take a better produced drum sound over this one any day of the week, for this particular disc, the human feel carried over is marvellous. McBrain plays in a relatively more straightforward style through most of the course of the album, but his time changes and crescendos are essential to the songs' flow. What's best about the album is that one will feel he knows all the songs upon first listen, since they are all injected with the classic Maiden signature, but further listens will attest to its diversity. Each new spin warrants something new, as it's virtually impossible not recognize the energy, maturity, and brilliance of this band. On the Gers/Harris-penned "The Pilgrim" and the brilliant final track "The Legacy", the folky, upbeat acoustic guitar lines function perfectly underneath Harris' pronounced bass and Dickinson's melodic singing. The former has a subtle eastern feel to it; while "The Legacy" is a prime example of Iron Maiden's darker songwriting. Almost like a leftover from The X Factor, this song is epic in both its size and execution. Surrounded by claustrophobic, suffocating production elements, it flows; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Unsaved; Brand: Deadstar Assembly; Review: I haven't heard Florida-based goth rockers DeadStar Assembly's earlier work, so I have no reference points to compare it with their new disc Unsaved. The music on this platter contains a total of fifteen tracks clocking in at over 50 minutes, and teetering the thin line between gothic pop and industrial rock. The album starts with the two-part title track "Unsaved"; the first one immediately stands out for its thick sound, bringing forth pulsating drum beats and building up to a nice crescendo before it segues into the comparatively heavier second part. The rhythm guitars on the album are used sparingly, as much of the atmosphere is conveyed through multi-track keyboard melodies and synth patches. The song does delve into a full-on goth rock style in its final section, following the doubled vocals of Dearborn. Simmering 80's synths characterize the industrial-tinged "Killing Myself Again", blending catchy alternative rock choruses and little touches of electronica. "Dejected" is a more modern piece with lots of turntable scratching and a playful rhythmic bottom; whilst the deeply electronic and textured "Naive" and the ballady "And Ashes Will Fall" are among the more moving and thought-out numbers. The use of acoustic guitars on the latter lends it a different sonic quality. The blend of dissonant sounds of "Showing Teeth" and the oft-repeated chorus of "Darker Now", with some cool guitar harmony development in the back, also contribute to the overall flow of Unsaved. That said, DeadStar Assembly's songwriting is nothing overtly original or unheard of. Their strength lies moreso in crafting solid goth-flavoured song that have both powerful crunch and big, boomy rhythmic aweareness. The production is amazing and should appeal to fans of this kind of music greatly.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scarsick; Brand: ; Review: In the CD packaging where most people will likely not look lies the answer to their question. Is Scarsick the conceptual follow-up to the band's The Perfect Element I released in 2000? The answer is yes. The faint title in the inlay, right inside the CD tray reads: The Perfect Element, Part II - "He". Divided into two main parts, simply called Side A and B, Scarsick presents both the newly found musical style of Pain of Salvation, and picks up exactly where the previous album left off. For those who may have been put off by the two controversial songs "America" and "Disco Queen", it has to be pointed out that these tracks work a lot better in the context of the album. There is a reason why "America", a song which in no way is targeting the American people but rather their government's foreign policy, and "Disco Queen", whose curious style has previously been experimented by the likes of Mr Bungle, follow the deeply moving "Cribcaged", featuring in many ways Daniel Gildenlow's most touching vocal performance on this disc. Right from the beginning where you can hear a baby (Daniel's son?) laughing and some beautiful blues-tinged guitar tones ringing atop the guiding piano melody, Daniel sings in a tone that will make you melt. It's one of those Pain of Salvation songs that grows on and on until its terrific main chorus kicks, albeit slightly differently this time around given its repeated F-word lines, and Daniel just pours pure, sheer emotion into the piece, climaxing at around the 4:01 mark and cementing the opinion that he is still the best singer in this style, period. (Speaking of the F-word, if people are really that offended by it, maybe they should listen to Bon Jovi's "It's My Life". Now that's a great song, no?) As with Be, there will no doubt be fans who will not like this album, but I seriously cannot think anyone won't shudder when they hear the sad vocals of "Cribcaged" or the superb vocal melody achieved at around 5:57 on "Spitfall", another cut that will divide the band's fanbase because of its rap-like vocals. Mind you, the vocals are very intentional as the purpose of this song is to criticise the rap/hiphop culture in the States along with parts of modern society at large. That said, the way Daniel delivers the lines "There's nothing like a broken childhood / There's nothing like a broken home" is so painful and honest any long-time fan is bound to feel the message. "Disco Queen", which I now consider one of the best songs on the album, also holds an important place in the album in that it actually emphasizes the conceptual lyrical imagery presented in the first part. Unlike "In the Flesh", however, which was a song about physical abuse, "Disco Queen" is about sexual abuse with clever lyrical imageries portraying the prostitution of the soul. The ever-present dichotomies, shifting from light verses to the comical, hysterial disco beats in a split second are simply hilarious. Side B seems; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Formless; Brand: Aghora; Review: It has been six years since Aghora released their eponymous debut. It seemed whenever Formless was about to come out, something else got in the band's way, and with numerous line-up changes, including the replacement of original singer Danishta Rivero with Diana Serra, the band have finally completed their sophomore album Formless, which, in many ways, matches (or even surpasses) the brilliance of their first effort. It is true that original bassist Sean Malone of Cynic and Gordian Knot fame does not appear on this disc. Without doubt, Malone was the reason why so many fans, including myself, discovered Aghora, but worry not, new member Alan Goldstein has done a phenomenal job on this record. He plays both fretted and fretless bass, and is featured in some of the most key moments on the album. On "Atmas Heave", a piece filled with crushing riffage, there is a great slap bass section to complement the crunch of the double bass drumming. Santiago Dobles' guitar playing is insanely wicked, particularly his sweep picking and unusual chord progressions. Likewise, Goldstein totally shines on "Dual Alchemy", a song that allows him to lay down a killer fretless solo following a busy yet equally melodic guitar solo. Dina Serra's vocal melody is infectiously catchy whilst Sean Reinert recalls his days in Death with those incessant kick drums. I just love the vast, spacious Middle Eastern elements this track is decorated with. Aghora's approach to the vocals have taken a completely new turn. The vocal tracking (done by none other than the great Neil Kernon) is simply awe-inspiring. Serra is a very young talent, and they've made great use of effects this time around, with cool layerings and dual harmonies happening in the background. She steals the show during the most unexpected moments, such as the slightly Tool-like "Open Close the Book", thanks to Sean Reinert's perfect sense of timing, where she inserts huge choruses into the otherwise complex number. Dobles experiments with a plethora of guitar sounds and concludes with yet another killer solo (that sweep picking at the end is gorgeous). However, Serra's finest moment on the album is the dazzling "Skinned", which also features some lyrics from the former vocalist. This is one of their most diverse cuts, as the band plows through a Latin-flavoured guitar theme to another superb bass lead and climaxes with more Tool-inspired riffery where Serra sounds like a female version of Maynard Keenan (which is a great thing), but that's where the similarities end, as Santiago Dobles feeds the song with innumerable threads of elements: his vibrato tone is terrific as is the curious ending of the song. The drumming duties have been split between former drummer Sean Reinert and new member Giann Rubio whose relatively more aggressive style serves as a catalyst on the heavier (yes they even get heavier!) pieces. On "Dime", as the title suggests, dedicated to Dimebag Darrell of whom Santiago Dobles was a fan, Rubio proves integral, supporting Dobles' liquidy guitar work and jamming along with him. The style of Dimebag totally comes through in; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Unplugged; Brand: Alice In Chains; Review: Due to the health problems of vocalist Layne Staley and other internal conflicts between the band members, Alice In Chains was unable to play any live shows after their Lollapalooza tour in 1993 which they did in support of their masterpiece Dirt. This unplugged album was their first ever show in three years and, given that, it is an unbelievable effort. This easily ranks among the finest acoustic albums ever. Even when stripped down to the basics, the band's songs shine with heartfelt emotion and genius compositional skills. Vocalist Layne Staley sounds incredible: the timbre in his sad delivery is so honest and true, and adds to the dark and brooding nature of the songs. "Nutshell", off of their Jar of Flies EP, is interpreted true to its original save for the re-written acoustic bluesy coda by Jerry Cantrell. Staley's voice sounds achingly beautiful here, and the bass really drives the piece. The chorus of "Brother" is infectious and truly haunting in its emotional impact, and the addition of Cantrell's vocals widens its scope. The band is tighter and meaner on "Sludge Factory", with a bass-heavy context and shatteringly heavy acoustic notes. The album's most amazing moment is "Down in a Hole", one of the greatest songs written in the 90's, all genres included. Layne sounds more depressing than ever and turns in an excellent performance - he simply takes the listener on an unmatched emotional journey. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell is arguably the greatest guitarist that emerged from the Seattle scene, and his songwriting skills remain unsurpassed. Even taken to their very core, his songs generate impossible sonic strength and his playing is out of this world. From his faithful rendition of "Rooster", a song written to his father, to the apocalyptic intro of "Frogs", he amazes both with his unique tone and remarkable ear for melody. He delves deep into experimental music too, particularly on "No Excuses", which seems like an almost re-arranged piece, where he plays a neat solo to complement its evocative flow. This song is also a highlight because of the performance of Sean Kinney, who doesn't miss a single beat. Kinney's kick drums also come out on the aforementioned "Frogs", the longest rendition on this disc. Bassist Mike Inez equally contributes to the album, best heard on "Heaven Beside You" and the intro of the band's hit "Would?". "Angry Chair", one of the few songs solely written by Layne Staley, finds the band successfully translating this heavy rocker into an acoustic dirge. Staley also plays guitar here and his chorus must have influenced Mike Tramp during his Freak of Nature period quite a bit, given the similarity in his singing the song "World Doesn't Mind". As a matter of fact, Freak of Nature is the only band who comes close to capturing the dark essence of their heavy nature, even doing unplugged sessions, so you may want to give their Outtakes release a listen. There is also a new song called "Killer Is Me", where guitarist Scott Olson picks up the bass and Mike Inez switches to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Schizophonic; Brand: Nuno Bettencourt; Review: After earning himself a much respected position in the guitar world with his former band Extreme, Nuno Bettencourt decided to go solo and release an album where he'd play most of the instruments himself. On his debut album Schizophonic, he is responsible for all the instrumentation and arrangements, but he has also collaborated with some other musicians, including his former band mate Gary Cherone on two tracks. It would be daft to try and explain Nuno Bettencourt's technical abilities on the guitar, as he is one of the finest from his era. With silky smooth tone, varied techniques, and a far-reaching musical mind, his playing surpasses pretty much any player. However, the purpose of Schizophonic is vastly different. This isn't an album where Bettencourt set out to impress his fanbase with guitar acrobatics, as he, much like Vito Bratta, George Lynch, and Criss Oliva to name but a few, has never been about proving how adept he is at his instrument. This album documents his songwriting and sees him touching on a vast array of styles and genres, including the punky pop of "Gravity", which quickly morphs into a hard-rocking piece, still bordering on experimental thanks to its processed vocal and guitar arrangements; the bass-heavy "Swollen Princess" that blends hard rock and funk at its most exuberant, and even the slower yet ultimately catchy "Crave", marked by distinct pop vocal harmonies and a neat, beautifully arranged acoustic transition that precedes a terrific guitar solo. Besides the screaming, over-the-top rockers like "2 Weeks in Dizkneelande" and "Fun by Me", Nuno also exhibits a deeper songwriting vision on tracks such as the exotic "Fallen Angels", an effect-laden number rich in central bass runs and swift transitions between heavy and slow passages. The vocal-based pop of "Karmalaa" belies its roots due to numerous sound textures woven into the music, shifting from nice percussion work to rocking leads, and whispered, warm vocal attributions and spoken parts. The album is further diversified on the largely acoustic-driven "Pursuit of Happiness". "Confrontation" slightly harkens back to his Extreme days with strong acoustic and fragile vocals blended and erupting into powerful drum and bass combinations. Interestingly, "You" has Gary Cherone guesting and putting in a great vocal performance, albeit greatly different than anything he did with Extreme, given its filmic soundtrack-like textures at the end. Though simplistic at face value, there is a lot going on in Schizophonic. No doubt Nuno Bettencourt spent long hours on these meticulous arrangements and the successful blend of his past sounds and more modern elements. The album is worth looking into if you are curious how Nuno sounds post-Extreme.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Heaven And Hell; Brand: Black Sabbath; Review: It was evident that the paths of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne were bound to separate after their not-so-well-received last two albums, Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die. With Ozzy's departure, most fans took the band for dead, considering it was almost impossible to imagine them without their charismatic front man. But Black Sabbath went ahead and found Dio of both Rainbow and Elf fame and forged themselves a new musical route, totally straying from their sludge-driven 70's sound and bringing in more forthright and remarkable elements. Although it wouldn't be until Mob Rules that the band recruited a full-time keyboardist, some of the songs on Heaven and Hell feature sprinkles of keyboards for a broader musical expression. Without getting into any overdone comparisons, Dio was the polar opposite of Ozzy, and both his unique voice and lyrics breathed new life into the band's much gone-stale and somewhat predictable style heard on the previous records. It is undoubtful that Dio revived this band, transforming Sabbath back into their commerically strong days and earning them a new legion of fans. And yet, after nearly three decades, both albums (and Dehumanizer later on) remain classics in the history of metal, spawning songs covered by hundreds of bands, and rightly so. Produced by the amazing Martin Birch whose resume with Deep Purple and Rainbow was already impressive enough, Heaven and Hell is arguably the most important album Black Sabbath have released after their amazing first six albums in the early 70's. It consists of eight songs, all of which flow so quickly that you can't believe it. This is one of the fastest running albums ever. It is packed with the super hits "Neon Knights", the thunderous album opener with a great groove; and "Die Young", whose simmering keyboards and sound effects in the intro erupt into a pumping rhythm staccato driven by Bill Ward. The song breaks down into unexpected acoustic passages as Dio whispers atop a layered soundscape before the piece ties in with its majestic ending, with Iommi sporting a crazy shredfest till the piece fades out. Songs like "Lady Evil" and "Wishing Well" resolve with smashing choruses and excellent guitar work thanks to Iommi's unique vibrato. The sturdy bass on the former underpins how unique a player Geezer Butler is; and the backing harmonies on the latter are amazing. The title track is not only among Black Sabbath's finest works ever, it also ranks as an all-time favourite heavy metal anthem for its epic intro and its majestic main riff, one of the greatest pieces put on tape ever. Butler's bass is the central element here, so simple yet so effective. Everything else, including Dio's vocals, is centred around the bass, which never lets go from start to finish. Just check out the middle part where everything except the bass cuts out and Iommi lets it throb till he's convinced the timing for his piercing lead solo is right. He scorches through the mid-paced piece sending shivers up and down the spine and putting any critic who claimed he wasn't on; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Handful of Rain; Brand: Savatage; Review: Handful of Rain in many ways marked the beginning of a new chapter in Jon Oliva's career, considering it was the first ever album written, recorded and produced without his brother Criss Oliva who was tragically killed in a car accident in late 1993. Given that Criss was the primary songwriter and guitarist of the band, it was believed that Savatage would be no more, and every member took a break before deciding what they'd do with their lives. And even though the booklet credits the full band, every instrument was played by Jon Oliva, including rhythm guitars, some acoustic bits, bass, and drums. It was only at the final moment when they brought in vocalist Zak Stevens and former Testament guitar player Alex Skolnick to lay down some leads. So in a way, Handful of Rain could be considered Jon Oliva's first solo effort with some lyrical input and creative arrangement ideas from producer Paul O'Neill. This is by far the darkest Savatage album ever, considering Jon started writing it about five or six months after Criss' death when he needed something to occupy himself with. There is an ever-present despondent mood permeating the album, kicking it off on a heavy note with "Taunting Cobras", complete with pulverizing riffs and screaming vocals. It is with the creepy intro of the title track (which is also the best video the band have done) that the tone of the album is fully set, mixing dramatic vocals with tinges of acoustic guitar and blues-inflected chords. The song maintains a steady mid-paced flow with occasional slamming rhythms and drums that highlight the chorus. Oliva expands this style with "Castles Burning" and "Symmetry", another depressing piece with its doomy atmosphere, stark acoustic guitars, and heavy parts. At one point during the chorus, Zak Stevens gives away the title of their future album Poets and Madmen, which, ironically, would become another harrowing (yet terribly overlooked) record, not too unlike Handful of Rain. "Chance" is a turning point in the both the band's discography and history of rock, being the first ever song to use a five-part counterpoint in the end. Savatage would go on to writing many other songs after this one, layering various vocal harmonies to represent the characters' state of mind in their amazing concept albums. Lyrically, "Chance" was inspired by a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania during WW2 who defied the government's orders by signing exit visas for thousands of Jewish refugees and therefore saved them from the Holocaust. Even though he was permanently removed from his position, he never regretted doing what he did. The song examines the various thoughts crossing his mind, and the counterpoint vocal harmony perfectly captures his restlessness thanks to the nice call-and-response type of vocals. Musically too, "Chance" would help forge Savatage a broader form of expression on later albums, mixing lots of piano, sweeped guitar licks, and shattering symphonic orchestrations. Most fans agree that Handful of Rain presented two major hits, "Chance" and "Alone You Breathe". The former for its innovative structuring and the latter for being the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Winter Dead; Brand: Savatage; Review: 1995's Dead Winter Dead was yet another important turning point for Savatage. After the intentionally dark and brooding Handful of Rain, in memory of founding guitarist Criss Oliva, producer Paul O'Neill and Jon Oliva set out to redefine their music in every possible respect. For the first time ever, they would write an album entirely on a piano as opposed to guitar, and Paul would make wider use of Jon's keyboard playing, which gave them a new palette with new colours. Additionally, they would shift to being a two-guitarist band, employing Al Pitrelli and former Sava guitarist Chris Caffery, who had recorded the Doctor Butcher project with Jon Oliva the year before. The radical shift also included the recording services of renowned engineer Dave Wittman, which would result in Savatage being one of the best produced bands on the planet. To top it all off, they would also hire a new cover artist, Edgar Jerins, whose stunning work here perfectly portrays the concept story. Having already scratched the surface previously on "Visions" and "Watching You Fall" on Handful of Rain, Dead Winter Dead turned out to be a concept album entirely dedicated to the war in Bosnia during the 90's, which took the lives of so many innocent civilians, most of whom were women and children. To fully capture the tragic storyline, Paul O'Neill also adopted more poetic lyrics with rhyming verses, and an added prose put at the beginning of the booklet detailing the concept to make it easier for listeners to follow the story. Basically, the album examines the tragedies of war manifested in Sarajevo, a city O'Neill had visited prior to its downfall, from the perspectives of both sides, reaching itz zenith during the amazing instrumental "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)". Not only did this song spawn their platinum-selling TSO project, it is also a strong example of how powerful and expressive music can be without the inclusion of lyrics, if done right. The use of gentle, heart-warming symphonic passages represent the Bosnian Muslims whilst the pulverizing rock guitars highlight the Serbians, supplying a unique yet very honest dichotomy. Yet amidst all this chaos and anarchy is placed a timeless cello melody wafting across no-man's land (see concept for more details about how O'Neill was inspired by cellist Vedran Smailovic's true story). The album also marks the return of founding member Jon Oliva on lead vocals on two songs after an absence of two albums. However, it is virtually impossible to ignore his impact on this album, as he remained the primary songwriter and contributed lots of instruments to the album. Driven by new drummer Jeff Plate's militaristic rhythms, "I Am" (originally titled "The Answer You Seek") is carried by his trademark laugh and sinister vocals, and stands out for its intensely epic symphonic arrangement. The piece is underscored by an addictive guitar lick by new lead guitarist Al Pitrelli. Similarly, "Doesn't Matter Anyway" proves to be a vital step in the flow of the concept, given its rapid-fire lyrics, hammering leads by Chris Caffery, and a stunning bass solo.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mob Rules; Brand: Black Sabbath; Review: It is always difficult to follow up masterpieces. Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell album with their new vocalist Ronnie James Dio at the helm shot them right back into stardom, garnering critical acclaim both musically and sales-wise. However, what everyone was curious about was whether Heaven and Hell was going to be a one-off achievement, and if not, how the band would top it without original drummer Bill Ward who had left due to health problems. He was replaced by Vinnie Appice, who put in an unbelievable performance, making Mob Rules the timeless masterpiece it is. In many ways, particularly its track-listing, Mob Rules tends to mirror its predecessor, and even though both "Turn Up the Night" and "Voodoo" are excellent cuts, they fall slightly short off the mark in comparison to the one-two punch start of Heaven and Hell. However, contrary to popular opinion, I happen to think this album actually surpasses the first Dio-era record, most notably because of its more in-your-face mix treatment (by the legendary Martin Birch) and rawer musical landscape. New drummer Vinnie Appice proves to be an excellent substitute, and his drum fills on this album are among heavy metal's best. The drumming on "The Sign of the Southern Cross" is stunning. Appice never lets go and supplies a strong rhythmic backbone to Iommi's sledgehammer riffage, accentuated by a fuzzed-out keyboard arrangement courtesy of Geoff Nicholls (now listed as a full-time member in the credits). Dio's vocals are among his most diverse, going from innocent, almost whisper-like sections to rousing high registers. No other metal band had written such a dynamic song before 1981, and Iommi's run-out lead simply tears the roof. "The Sign of the Southern Cross" is the greatest Dio-era Sabbath song ever. On the whole, Geezer Butler serves to thicken Iommi's rhythm parts on the album, but the predominantly dissonant instrumental "E5150" sees weird collection of sounds built around his screeching bass guitar, smothered by sizzling keyboards and eventually darker-than-black guitar effects -- it is a frightening experience. Also, the remarkable interplay of "Slipping Away" has awesome bass lines coming through its addictive chorus, punctuated by yet another mindblowing drum performance. The title track, while great, fails to leave as strong a lasting effect as that of Heaven and Hell, but "Country Girl" is a fantastic mix of powerful vocals and hook-laden rhythms. The slowed-down middle of the the song with beautifully harmonised guitar tracks (excellent production job!) and backing vocals is sublime. And Dio's voice kills. Unlike the first two songs, Mob Rules closes on a very high point, with the criminally overlooked "Falling Off the Edge of the World", bridging Sabbath's old, doomy side with their new-found, guitar-driven aesthetic. It kicks off with solid doomy riffery sinking the piece deep into pits of hell before launching into a rocking metal anthem, complete with a crazy solo. However, it is with the final track "Over and Over" that Iommi lays down quite possibly his longest lead solo, amidst crashing cymbals and a powerful snare sound (which would later on be copycatted by; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wake of Magellan; Brand: Savatage; Review: The Wake of Magellan is in many ways similar to Dead Winter Dead. This is also a concept album with a politically charged storyline, chock full of dramatic vocals, beautiful piano arrangements, searing guitar work, and symphonic overtones. Both albums boast instrumental tracks and excellent counterpoint climaxes as well as two songs sung by original vocalist Jon Oliva. This partly stems from the fact that The Wake of Magellan was the first album in years that featured the same lineup as its predecessor, and it sees input from other members too, as opposed to being a record written entirely by Jon Oliva and Paul O'Neill. Therefore, it would be safe to claim that Dead Winter Dead and The Wake of Magellan are like two sides of the same coin, barring some exceptions which I will address in this review. For starters, the use of counterpoint-style vocal harmonization took on a new form as the band recorded a more riveting, faster, and more complex style on the title track. Backed by a nice bass groove, the song features an incredible climax in Zak's vocal delivery, portraying the conflicting emotions and arguments that cross the character's mind. What's more is Zak harmonizes on top of this counterpoint and the result is outstanding -- easily the most complex vocal recording in the band's history. Similarly, Zak's spoken-like vocals on "Blackjack Guillotine" work well in a slightly symphonic context with a nice main riff (originally written for a Doctor Butcher album) by Chris Caffery. The album draws parallels to several influences of Jon Oliva. The pure, sweet piano riff on "The Ocean" echoes the churning riffing of the Doors' "Riders of the Storm"; and the melodic opening of "Welcome" is inspired by U2's The Edge in that it has this constant note playing against which the main melody is set. Al Pitrelli's glistening harmonics on "Turns to Me", possibly the high point of the album, make for a pleasant listen, given its fluctuating rhythmic tension, alternating between jackhammer riffs and acoustic sections enriched with sweet piano lines. Zak's voice being thick with harmony also contributes to its intensity -- this is one of his finest performances. "Morning Sun" brings forth an unusual vibe for Savatage. It starts with a soft, plucked acoustic guitar giving off a folksy air before bringing in a powerful chorus and a blues-tinged guitar solo. In terms of diversity, The Wake of Magellan is one of their strongest works. The first Oliva-sung piece, "Another Way", sees him snapping into the psyche of the young kid in the story (there is a nice synopsis of the storyline in the booklet) and turning in a great performance, not unlike "I Am". Likewise, this piece boasts a nice classical guitar part from Pitrelli akin to the material on Dead Winter Dead and Sava's offshoot project Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Written in a weird key, the song carries an evil tone to it, and the use of sneering guitars and dense symphonic elements fits it like a glove. There are three instrumentals on the CD, "The Ocean" serving; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hall Of The Mountain King; Brand: Savatage; Review: After 1986's lackluster attempt at commercialism with Fight for the Rock, Savatage came to the point of break-up, and had it not been for the arrival of producer Paul O'Neill, we might have never heard from them again -- at least in this capacity. Paul O'Neill reinstated the band, bringing in new elements that would heighten them to a new level, and also contribute to the songwriting. Interestingly, the three tracks he co-wrote with the Oliva brothers also proved to be among the band's all-time finest heavy metal staples. The first song, "24 Hours Ago", backed by Middleton's unbreakable bass drive, boasts a majestic riff and awesome tapping from Criss Oliva -- and the presence of O'Neill shows. However, it was with the amazing instrumental "Prelude to Madness", inspired by Romantic era musician Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite (1874-1875), that Savatage started displaying signs of evolving into the unique heavy metal band on which their successive albums would further expand. Bringing in classical music arrangements, interpreted by Criss Oliva's sharp guitar playing, the song is originally called "Hall of the Mountain King" from which the title of this album was inspired. In the long run, this would culminate in vocalist Jon Oliva being called the Mountain King and become an indispensable song played in pretty much every concert (along with pieces like "Believe" from Streets). Introducing Oliva's trademark evil laughter, irresistible riffery, and fantastic guitar theme along with Wacholz' furious drumming, "Hall of the Mountain King" ranks among heavy metal's most representative anthems of all times. "Legions" is comprised of a strong bass intro, stratosphere vocals, and some of Criss' finest playing. It was with this album he started opting to create threads of mini "guitar choruses", which he would perfect on the following three albums. And when supported by Steve Wacholz' drum parts, it felt like Savatage songs had one vocal and one guitar chorus, which resulted in them being all the more powerful. I love the solo on this song. Had "Strange Wings" been featured on their previous album, it could have garnered them more critical acclaim than all songs on there combined. It is easily the most melodically engaging track on this CD, decorated yet with another awesome guitar theme, some beautiful Van Halen-style tapping harmony, and a killer vocal support by Ray Gillen (spelt Gillian in the booklet) of Badlands and Black Sabbath fame. As strange as it may seem, O'Neill was actually planning to use the classical-themed guitar music, which later spawned the Trans-Siberian Orchestra project, with Gillen-era Sabbath, but the project never took off the ground because of Gillen's untimely death. Unlike many other Savatage albums, Hall of the Mountain King also features two tracks penned by the Oliva brothers on their own. "Beyond the Doors of the Dark", the lost song from this record, is sort of a foreshadowing of Jon Oliva's interest in theatrical vocals a la 70's Alice Cooper and one of the first Tage tunes to utilise a keyboard in its intro. Complete with his scorching screams and Criss' remarkable soloing, this; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Music for the Divine; Brand: Glenn Hughes; Review: It is about time people accepted Glenn Hughes' solo material as a different entity from his past works with Trapeze and Deep Purple. While it cannot be ignored that Hughes has fronted some of the most important bands in the history of rock, he has also had a solid solo career as well as stints with other important figures, including Joe Lynn Turner and Tony Iommi. Music for the Divine is a very brave record -- and perhaps because of the fact that it guests Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith as well as Dave Navarro, it borders into more of a funkier territory than his last set of releases with Iommi. Backed by fantastic string arrangements and keyboard work by Mark Killian, Music for the Divine is one of his most modern sounding releases, particularly shining on the opening track "The Valiant Dream", one of his most daring and experimental pieces of recent times. It boasts a curious mix of psychedelic-like guitar lines with occasional accoustic bursts and a symphonic edge. It also follows a very uncoventional pattern, as it sees JJ Marsh's guitars providing texture rather than mindblowing lead solos and Hughes does a good job fitting the song with his vocals. Tracks like the hard-rocking "Steppin' On", the rhythmically challenging "Monkey Man", and the totally off-the-wall "You Got Soul" all include funky bass lines and drums, interspersed with clean-toned guitar harmonies. Hughes also offers ballads in the form of "This House", a predominantly acoustic piece; and the wonderful "Frail", which sees his bluesy vocals take the lead atop a beautiful symphonic arrangement. This song is quite a feat, as it sounds pretty much nothing like Hughes has sung before. Chad Smith also contributes slick piano work to the album alongside tight rhythmic grooves. He is also responsible for the production of the album, which might explain his relatively more up-to-date sonic punch. "Black Light" contains a cool percussion and dynamic vocal shifts, and a burning guitar lead by long-time guitarist Marsh. His playing on this song draws parallels to his work with the Flower Kings' keyboardist Tomas Bodin's solo record. Special mention also goes to the wonderfully sweet guitar melody of "Nights in White Satin", a song featured on the European version of the album, but it is definitely worth tracking down if you are a Glenn Hughes fan. Not only is it filled with a cool lead, but it also stands out for its cascading main melody and moving vocal harmonies. Overall, this is yet another collection of eclectic songs and a great vocal performance. While many of his peers keep treading the same paths they did in the 80's, Hughes has the courage to step out of his cage and put out tight compositions, bringing in some of the finest guest musicians to realize his intentions. (Please note that my copy is the European pressing of the CD which contains a bonus track called "Nights in White Satin".); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Origins Of Ruin; Brand: Redemption; Review: Redemption's second album The Fullness of Time proved to be such a well received album that the band quickly moved to Inside Out, releasing their debut album here, titled The Origins of Ruin. Largely sticking to the successful formula of its predecessor, the new album sees a slight lineup change in the addition of new bassist Sean Andrews from Henning Pauly's Chain project. The rest of the band have refined their strength, still employing the services of the amazing producer Tommy Newton, who has rendered yet another hard-hitting sonic quality to the album. Once again, Nicolas van Dyk has written all music and lyrics, besides sticking to his multi-instrumentalist role as guitarist and keyboardist of Redemption. The Origins of Ruin could be evaluated as a two-part record in large: The first four songs are the more intricate tracks, carrying a distinct progressive awareness to them; while the last four cuts are more melodically enhanced straightforward pieces, with the short title track bridging these two parts with a smooth piano melody and mostly a capella vocals from Ray Alder, undoubtedly among prog metal's greatest singers. Even though Alder did not co-write any of the songs, his ability to apply a melodic edge to even the longest verses is nothing short of stunning. His phrasing, the tone of his midrange voice and unique delivery attest to his versatility and it is highly questionable whether another vocalist could sing these lyrics the way they were meant. The track-listing of the album seems carefully planned, as both pieces that conclude the "parts" are the album's longer tracks, breaking the nine-minute mark. This album could be Redemption's most powerful one-two punch start to date. "The Suffocating Silence" begins with an assault of thrashy riffage strung across a neat synth line and solid rhythmic bottom. Without getting redundant, there is room for both a keyboard and guitar solo, accompanied by a gripping vocal melody -- the instrumental finale of this song is so brilliantly executed that it evokes Liquid Tension Experiment, with drum fills akin to Mike Portnoy's. Chris Quirarte's drumming gets only better. He is fast becoming one of my favourites in the genre and his tone is solid as a rock. "Bleed My Dry" kicks off with a very strong guitar melody, which is later repeated by Alder during the chorus, and boasts a stomping bass and guitar interplay, whilst the song lyrically examines the state of mind of a person after a devastating break-up. The subject matter of the previous two albums is kept intact: van Dyk still uses dark themes of self-doubt, deceit, intolerance, and angst. "The Death of Faith and Reason" is the most complex and challenging Redemption song with its thick groove, aggressive (and slightly processed) vocal attack, and super technical arrangement. The subtle keyboard use behind the central instruments sort of recalls Threshold and the mix is possibly their heaviest yet. The first epic "Memory" is not only a worthy successor to the epic-length "Sapphire" off of their previous album, but it also blends myriad textures: sparse keyboards, wind effects, throbbing; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Slavior; Brand: Slavior; Review: Slavior is poised to become Inside Out's oddball band, considering there is nothing progressive about their songs in one way or another. But Fates Warning fans have no right to complain -- drummer Mark Zonder, around whose rhythms and grooves these songs were built, has stated right from the get-go that Slavior was formed in order to display his take on modern rock, mixing in wide-ranging elements including reggage, grunge, and even hiphop. Along with MSG guitarist Wayne Findlay and former Tribe of Gypsies vocalist Gregg Analla, the band churns out a curious mix of styles, always focusing on vocal-based, sing-along numbers and never sacrificing basic songwriting ideas in favour of challenging instrumentation. The vocals of Gregg Analla is central to all of the songs on this debut. While Analla's voice will be the make-it-or-break-it factor to many, he certainly fits the bill, given the intentions behind this project. Having penned mostly angst-ridden lyrics, he does a fine job coming up with strong vocal hooks, and provides an array of vocal styles. He does the rapid-fire spoken hiphop-style vocals; he opts for lower registers; he offers big, riotous choruses, but most importantly, he does a lot of harmony vocals, even on the simplest, most direct cuts. The multi-layered vocal attack at the end of "Swept Away" comes across rather challenging (though wonderfully easy to enjoy) considering the song's otherwise commercial vibe. It is filled with a memorable main melody and deeply grooving rhythmic undercurrent. Similarly, the title track has Anella singing like a hiphop guy at one point, but as Findlay cuts through the piece with a dirty lead solo, the song quickly makes a return to its visceral rock roots. Mark Zonder is still the greatest drummer in the world -- and his fans from Fates Warning will not be disappointed a second listening to him. The intro of "Shatter" is mindblowing: those fills, the strong rhythmic power, and the excellent groove are all what set him apart from every other drummer out there. This song, unlike others, also boasts a cool acoustic breakdown and some keyboard-generated atmosphere towards the end which is an interesting listen. A personal favourite of mine is "Altar": it begins with cool percussion and takes on a slightly Rush-like feel with its neat arrangement and intense vocal attack. Traces of reggae permeat the considerably heavier "Another Planet", and the song even features a slight electronic sound attachment to it as well as some aggressive vocal lines. Findlay finds the chance to prove how capable a soloist he is on "Give It Up" where he lets out streamrolling electric riffs. The last track "Red Road" stands out from the rest of the album for its eerie string intro, acoustic melody, and static drum beat. After the song plays out, there is a brief silence before the keys return, with weird percussion heard distantly in the background, and Analla relates a poem in a different language before starting this killer vocal harmony -- simply killer. It is this song and the radio-friendly "Dove" which must garner Slavior some; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Northwind; Brand: Falconer; Review: Though Grime Vs. Grandeur was a good release in its own way, it didn't sit well with the band's long-time fans and called for the return of return of original vocalist Mathias Blad. And while it is again guitarist Stefan Weinerhall who wrote all music and lyrics for this album, the direction in the songwriting indicates a return to their folkier style of power metal, mixing both fast and slow pieces into their trademark melodic framework. Blad's vocals are still as amazing as always, and he certainly possesses the most fitting voice to Falconer. If you enjoyed Chapters for a Vale Forlorn, be prepared for a nice follow-up type of release. Imbued with lots of memorable melodies, excellent vocal parts, interesting instrumental sections, and folky elements, Northwind begins with the ambitious title track, packed with a dynamic guitar arrangement, pounding double bass drums, and melodically charged guitar soloing. New lead guitarist Jimmy Hedlund brings in a new dimension to the band, sharing cool call-and-response leads with Weinerhall and also offering solo spots. His tone on (as on "Waltz with the Dead") is noticeably more metallic and easier to distinguish, so his fretwork adds a welcome contrast to the music. The classical guitar tandem of "Spirit of the Hawk" is unadulterated speedy power metal with relentless double bass battery whilst the slow opening of "Legend and the Lore" features beautiful harpsichord courtesy of Johannes Nyberg. Lots of mandolin work dominates the more vocal-based pieces, such as "Tower of the Queen" which sort of sounds like a sped-up Blackmore's Night number with male vocals. "Long Gone By" is the album's moving power ballad boasting nicely strummed acoustic guitars, an excellent guitar theme, and subtle keyboard melodies. Falconer immediately get back to their fast-paced power metal anthems in the forms of "Perjury and Sanctity" and "Blinded", the latter being more diverse in its structure. The album also sees the Swedish sung "Himmel S Trind" and the anti-Bush piece "Home of the Knave" towards the end, still retaining its folky roots and expanding on it with switch-ups between streamrolling electric leads, crushing drum attacks, and soaring vocal harmonies. The digipack of the CD contains bonus tracks and video documentary of the making of the album, so die-hard Falconer fans may want to pick that version up. _________ Tracklisting- Northwind . Waltz with the Dead . Spirit of the Hawk . Legend and the Lore . Catch the Shadows . Tower of the Queen . Long Gone By . Perjury and Sanctity . Fairyland Fanfare . Himmel S Trind . Blinded . Delusion . Home of the Knave (instrumental); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Elysium for the Brave; Brand: Azam Ali; Review: Azam Ali was born in Iran, raised in India, and currently resides in the USA and she blends her polycultural influences beyond what the human mind can imagine. Known for her collaborations with a vast array of musicians, including members from Nine Inch Nails, the guitar virtuoso Buckethead, the Turkish world music composer Mercan Dede, and the Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, she also fronts two amazing bands: Vas and Niyaz. Elysium for the Brave is her second solo statement, which she has co-produced with Carmen Rizzo (Niyaz) and sees her taking her already amazing style several steps further. This time around, she is supported by King Crimson's Pat Mastelotto whose amazing percussion work on the opening song "Endless Reverie", blended with Ali's impossibly beautiful vocals, is like the perfect combination of tribal beats and electronics, something we've never heard from Ali before. Another Crimson member, Trey Gunn, also appears on the album, and even co-wrote the mood-intensive piece "The Tryst", employing minimal guitar effects that underlie Ali's vocal lament. Her velvet vocals convey sensuality and heartfelt emotion, and are carefully placed atop an ethereal guitar theme. It is amazing to hear Ali sing in English -- her older fans know how moving she can get when she sings in Persian and Indian, but to see that she is actually capable of applying her talents to more "straightforward" pieces is nothing short of astounding. Unlike her works with Vas and Niyaz, there are a few non-Eastern songs on this album, such as the album opener and this one, where you'll get lost in the beauty of forlornly ringing guitar notes and dark mysticism. That said, while the titles are in English, not all of them are sung in this language. Ali still uses lots of Persian and Indian lyrics in her songs. Her artistic strength mostly lies in crafting unique Middle Eastern pieces highlighting her vocals and it is hard to capture the intensity without using the region's language and instruments (as on the Indian dirge "Abode"). Her voice is so vulnerable and beautiful I don't even know how to describe it. Having discovered her on Mercan Dede's Breath album where she does her unique Persian-styled vocal melodies mostly going for wordless harmonies, I felt compelled to seek everything she participated in and was absolutely thrilled she experiments with the same style on songs like "I Am a Stranger in This World", which she co-wrote with Loga Roman Torkian, her partner in Niyaz; and the mesmerizing "From Heaven to Dust", an atmospheric elegy drenched in western beats and Indian percussion. "In Other Worlds" is one of the darkest songs on the CD -- it contains strummed acoustic guitars that slowly disappear under a wall-of-sound keyboards that blanket everything but Ali's wonderful voice. Though there is a vague Persian sadness incorporated into the song, this is yet another attempt to branch out and explore new territories. The production and sonic quality of the album are mindblowing. An incredible amount of nuance and coherent body of work serve to heighten the unmatched emotional power; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hellraiser; Brand: Krokus; Review: It has been over thirty years since the Swiss band Krokus formed and they've changed a lot from their more 70's prog sound to the classic rock act they now are. Hellraiser sees them getting back in action with a renewed spirit, and those who enjoyed their earlier works such as Painkiller should take note. Hellraiser is great classic rock with catchy, AC/DC-like riffs and strong vocal lines by Marc Storace. Tracks like "Hellraiser" and "Too Wired to Sleep" are amazing 80's rockers with enjoyable guitar licks and sing-along choruses, while the band does expose their more profound side on "Angel of My Dreams" whose great guitar tone and somewhat folky main melody are among the album's most memorable. Likewise, "Midnite Fantasy" is drenched in plenty of sound effects, a protruding bass groove, and catchy rhythm section. The band goes totally 80's on their ballad "Hangman" in a sort of Bon Jovi meets Blue Tears style, employing slight blues guitar lines and wrapping them around a repeated yet easy to enjoy vocal melody. They get significantly heavier with "Fight On", a metallic piece boasting effective rhythm guitars and crushing bass power. The acoustic-based "So Long" is another ballad that won't disappoint as Krokus really know how to craft a moving piece with wrenching vocals and forceful melodic arrangements. On "Spirit of the Night", not only does Storace let out a crazy scream but he also helps the rest of the band emulate the classic AC/DC sound and it works greatly. Check out the short but totally gripping tapping harmony by Mandy Meier and Dominique Favez -- it's amazing. There is plenty of diversity on this disc no matter what style of rock one may like best. There is a reason why Krokus never really made it as big as some other bands from the 80's, but unlike most them, they've never gone stale or dropped musical integrity in favour of transient stardom. Therein lies the reason why their long-time fan base will check this album out and enjoy it immensely.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence; Brand: Dream Theater; Review: Following the groundbreaking impact of Scenes from a Memory, which was perhaps the most important progressive metal album of the late 90's, everybody was curious what Dream Theater would do next. After nearly three years, the band came up with Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, which couldn't be further from the sound and style of its predecessor. Packed into two discs, the second one being a long-form composition broken into eight tracks for easier navigation purposes, Dream Theater chose to prove they were a truly progressive band. Rather than putting out another album that walked in the footsteps of Scenes from a Memory, they released a double CD album, with three of the five tracks on disc one exceeding the ten-minute mark (and "Misunderstood" clocks in at 9:34 anyway), thus sticking to their artistic integrity rather than commercial stardom. It baffles me how so many Dream Theater fans have turned a blind eye to this album because it sounds so different from their earlier work. I always thought that's what makes this band so special -- that they never repeat themselves and cater to the lowest common denominator. It is true that the first CD sees Dream Theater turning to their influences, and not only Rush and Metallica this time, but also to bands like Pantera on the groove-inflected "The Glass Prison", easily their heaviest song to date. It begins with the same static sound that finalised Scenes from a Memory and picks up an incredibly beautiful bass figure that sounds almost exactly like an acoustic guitar. Myung's tone is clean, big and uber-heavy. With crushing rhythm guitars, pounding bass, and aggresive vocals, the song is elevated to prog metal heaven when Rudess' understated keyboards appear behind the main instruments, and even Petrucci's shred-intensive guitar that many have lambasted (especially on Train of Thought) makes an invaluable contribution to the excellence of the song. Unlike its successor, the shred parts on this album all emerge after carefully built up sections on this one with an intense keyboard and bass unison; or the superb "Blind Faith", which is graced with a wonderful bluesy shred piece. It is here where Dream Theater comes back to their vintage prog roots, boasting a stunning solo piano performance, protruding bass arrangement, and all-around songwriting brilliance. The moodier pieces "Misunderstood" and the closing piece "Disappear" are both captured by undeniable Radiohead atmospherics. The flickering synth patches during the acoustic guitar intro on "Misunderstood" help thicken Petrucci's waves of dissonance at the end, adding to its intensity; whilst "Disappear" is arguably the most underrated Dream Theater ballad. The effects, sad piano melody, and Labrie's otherworldy vocals are too good to dislike. "The Great Debate" is the band's nod to the intricate rhythm arrangements of Tool, with both Portnoy and Petrucci providing a solid backbone to the song. Even Labrie's vocals evoke Maynard Keenan during the verses, but Dream Theater does add their own signature to it, mostly with Rudess' rising symphonic keyboard aesthetics and the clever mixing of opposing arguments that blast out from either speaker. The second disc; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Go; Brand: Daryl Stuermer; Review: Daryl Stuermer is known for his impressive stints with Genesis as a touring member as well as Phil Collins' long-time guitarist for nearly three decades. Much of Collins' pop hits were played by this amazing guitarist, but unfortunately, Stuermer has always been underrated, garnering little to no recognition for his talents as a guitar player. Go is Steurmer's first album on his new label Inside Out, and sees him delving deeply into his past fusion work and blending it with the melodic aesthetic of his more recent output. It is an incredibly powerful combination to say the least. Taking the smoothest sides of Eric Johnson's tone and combining it with the highly challenging rhythmic groove of Joe Satriani, the majority of the songs are still characterized by his fusion guitars. Unlike his previous efforts though, Go is a more balanced and diverse record. It is filled with lush keys and prominent bass to underpin his ultra-clean melodic signature on "Striker"; a more rocky and somewhat eastern-tinged feel on "Masala Mantra" (sort of like a marriage between Far Eastern scales and Indian eclectism), and the perfect mix of fusion and groove-inflected rock on "Greenlight", which evokes a song where Eric Johnson and Al Di Meola duet fiercely within the context of a beautifully written compostion. Keys have a stronger impact on the moody "Dream in Blue", complete with stunning percussion and a slowly building guitar arrangement. "Breaking Point" is again like a neat Joe Satriani track that would feel at home on his self-titled album. Stuermer's understanding of rhythm and fluency is at its best here, climaxing with a spine-chilling guitar solo. "Urbanista" is without doubt the album's most progressive piece, starting out with cool funky rhythm before venturing into 70's prog, chock full of melodic warmth and energetic riffery as well as liquidy guitar lines. The ending of the song is particularly striking, with amazing eastern rhythms, sizzling keyboards, and towering fretwork coming to the fore. What can't go unmentioned is the moving ballad "Heavy Heart", which is a nice break from the fusiony material. The band behind Stuermer are John Calarco on drums, Eric Hervey on bass, Kostia on keyboards, and Leland Sklar on bass with whom he has played for years in Phil Collins' band. At this point, it seems unlikely that these songs will be taken on stage, seeing that Stuermer will be busy with the Genesis reunion tour coming up, but one can still hope.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Reckoning; Brand: Threshold; Review: Threshold is still the best progressive metal band from England and Dead Reckoning marks their debut with major label Nuclear Blast, which seemed a somewhat confusing match-up at first, but repeat listens to the album have attested that the band still have full artistic control over their music, and there is no sign of regression or stagnation in form and style whatsoever. Assessing the Mac-era albums, I have always considered Clone to be their transition to a more vocal-harmony-friendly style of prog, reaching its stylistic peak on albums like Hypothetical and its heavier logical continuation Critical Mass. The previous album Subsurface saw their entrance into yet another territory, blending the melodic signature of their earlier works with more elaborate instrumental sections defined by huge production values. The new album embarks on a similar stylistic drive. Therefore, it shouldn't be wrong to claim that Dead Reckoning, rather than breaking new ground completely, encapsulates the most consistent parts of its predecessor, adding in a bit more crunch and catchiness factor, particularly in the use of Andrew McDermott's vocals. It is clear the songs on this album have especially been tailored for him to demonstrate his vocal skills fully, exerting convincing authority over melodically enhanced harmonies. On the other hand, while the similarities to Subsurface can in no way be denied, there are also new elements introduced on some of the songs, most notably on the album opener "Slipstream", which sees them instantly gluing an addictive chorus to the listener's mind, amidst an onslaught of crunch-filled rhythm guitars backed by Richard West's ethereal synth patch and drummer Johanne James' easily identifiable playing. James is among the hardest hitting skinsman in the business, which is why most Threshold songs are graced with a convincing slam through and through. Truth be told, it was his playing that got all my attention during the first couple of spins. The song also has the amazing Dan Swano guesting with his unique death growls briefly behind Mac; and the use of Queen-like counterpoint at the very end is something they had never experimented with before. Dan Swano also appears on "Elusive". His growls on this one are more brutal sounding, providing a strong sense of contrast to Mac's crystalline vocals. The instrumental part of this song ranks among the album's best: it is filled with a killer unison solo by Karl Groom and Richard West, each player upping the calibre of the already mesmerizing song; and Mac's vocal part that follows Karl Groom's solo part is arguably the album's high point vocal-wise. The choice to feature Swano is a huge asset to these songs, as the subject matter of both "Slipstream" and "Elusive" are dark and menacing: the former addresses anxiety whilst the latter deals with the individual's desperation and completely lost state of mind. Four of the songs, including the ten-minute epic, on the CD were written by keyboard player Richard West. It is no coincidence that songs by West also have a futuristic side to them, as they are mostly infused with brief but easily noticable sound effects,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fear Of A Blank Planet; Brand: Porcupine Tree; Review: In many ways, Fear of a Blank Planet functions as a parameter to its predecessors, bravely quoting some key themes in order to retain stylistic cohesion. But at the same time, it is also an excellent chronicle of Porcupine Tree's entire body of work, as it is a lot more informed by their spacey, ambient rock leanings, which they have strategically placed into their songcraft. It is considerably less heavy than Deadwing and In Absentia, but the compositions are still nihilistic in tone and carry similar thematic ideas. Unlike the previous two albums though, Fear of a Blank Planet seems rather uneventful upon the first set of spins, with few or no hooks to speak of. Only patient listens reveal the successful blend of their strongest yet somewhat less accessible parts of their earlier work, initially bringing the listener's focus on the mindblowing performance of Gavin Harrison. This is easily his most realized work; the drumming is uniformly superb, and it is his playing that makes the most vital turns in the music. His full tone, powerful toms, and natural hi-hat taps are stunning to say the least. Themes of both In Absentia and Deadwing crop up on the CD, namely the main riff of the latter on the title track, a terrific blend of everything that makes Porcupine Tree the amazing band they are. Harrison's encircling snare drums slowly disappear under Steven Wilson's visionary songwriting, introducing the subject matter which gives us an insight into the psyche of a demented kid, devastated by the negative effects of technology, isolation, prescribed drugs, and the generation gap between parents and children. The middle section of the song boasts a nice spacey breakdown where airy synths float across the piece -- Richard Barbieri is absolutely essential to creating this band's sound. Even during the most subtle parts, he lays down a great sonic path for the music to travel on. I also love how he always establishes context for his amazing futuristic sound effects, carefully built around Wilson's acoustic and electric leads. The apotheosis of the album is "Anesthetize". At over seventeen minutes, it moves from mood to mood in order to help portray the character's restlessness, and also sees a guest appearance by Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson. His soloing on this song is out of this world, recalling his finest moments circa Power Windows. This could be his longest recorded solo in years as well. At one point, the piece erupts into a volcanic outburst thanks to the rhythm onslaught by Colin Edward and Gavin Harrison. Steven Wilson's riffing is intense not to mention his plaintive singing in the final section of the song. An excerpt from In Absentia's "Trains" resurfaces on "Sentimental", a largely piano-based piece of pop splendour; the smooth transition from the repeated acoustic guitar to said melody is awe-inspiring. Likewise, "My Ashes", easily among the darkest songs Wilson has penned, is predominantly acoustic guitar-based, but what cannot go unmentioned is the inspired symphonic orchestration. King Crimson's Robert Fripp appears on "Way Out of Here", the only song written by; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Third; Brand: Pure Reason Revolution; Review: Influenced by bands like Pink Floyd (particularly their earliest works), Led Zeppelin, as well as The Beach Boys and The Cure for their vocal harmonies, and even modern day Tool and some grunge elements, The Dark Third is a challenging debut album by Pure Reason Revolution. The fourth track, "The Ambassadors of Morning", is a solid representative of the full album. It clocks in at a little over 12 minutes; blending numerous musical statements, from the Celtic folk parts to semi-electronic and analog synth work, to ambient atmospherics, to both male and female harmonies often sung in counterpoint, to classic rock guitar nuances. The song starts off with subtle keyboards while you can hear lots of sample sounds happening in the background. Far back in the mix, female vocalists hum wordless melodies before a heavier synth layer is introduced. This is followed by a very folky segment mixed with ambience and could make for a great movie soundtrack. The ambience generated by the keyboards is a testimony to the band's love for Pink Floyd. However, as the four-part harmonies kick off, the song turns into post-pop tune with great melodic sensibility. The multi-vocals take a back seat when the first chorus hits the tune with a very repetitive lyrical approach sung by deep, clean male vocals. Eventually the melody reaches its end and another lengthy instrumental section follows with lots of wind effects and sparse synth notes flying around. A grungy Tool can be felt before male and female vocals begin to sing in counterpoint and lead into the second big chorus that is repeated over and over until the last second of the piece. The other songs are also composed similarly, always injected with a multitude of similar sounds, but when put together, they form these easy-listening pieces which indicate a promising future for this band. The first song, "Aeropause", evokes Pink Floyd with its droning rhythm and slide guitar. Three members in the band play guitar, and that culminates in a wide-ranging sonic pulse, especially on "Apprentice of the Universe". Also, the "dreamy" feel of the whole album fits the concept. Obviously, the band is quite interested in the phenomen of dreams and their interpretation, and that feel is perfectly captured on the whole album. That said, the avid Floyd, Zeppelin or The Cure fans may question the songs' validity, and to an extent, they may have a point. It's great the band wants to mix all these genres, but doing it right is more important. The production done by Paul Northfield (Gentle Riant, Rush) is amazing; he's rendered an incredible sonic intensity on this album.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quantum; Brand: Planet X; Review: It has been five years since Moon Babies came out, and it would be wise to say it's been worth the wait. Instrumental rock, metal and fusion project Planet X are back. Driven by keyboardist Derek Sherinian and drum god Virgil Donati, their new album sees them returning to the composition-based style of Planet X and Universe, more so than its predecessor, which relied more heavily on mindblowing instrumental prowess. Without doubt, the biggest plus of Quantum is that Allan Holdsworth appears on two tracks. Unfortunately, because of scheduling commitments, he could not do the whole album, but fear not, for another amazing guitarist, Brett Garsed, has returned to the fold, filling the songs with amazing chops and his unique legato phrasings. As most will remember, it was Garsed who played on the very first Derek Sherinian album Planet X, which still ranks as most fans' favourites. Both Garsed and Holdsworth are known for their unmatched legato-style playing, backed by killer tone and amazing solos. The two Holdsworth pieces, "Desert Girl" and "The Thinking Stone", are wildly improvised. "Desert Girl" starts out with nice symphonic keyboards and a beautiful piano melody before it picks up pace thanks to Donati's funky playing. It then launches into a fantastic improvised passage, highlighting Holdsworth's talents. Surprisingly, the song is also quite heavy compared to stuff we've come to expect from Holdsworth's solo material, so it's a much welcome change. "The Thinking Stone" has also some cool tribal drum beats and the guitar playing is mindblowing. The band tests heavier waters on "Matrix Gate", one of their most complex pieces on this disc, blending busy rhythms with groove-inflected drum and bass battery. Brett Garsed particularly comes to the fore on "Space Foam", punctuated by simmering synths and big bass. Considering his timing and sense of melody, it is a shame he is still yet to be discovered by the masses. Anything with Garsed rules, so be sure to check out his solo material as well. The atmospheric colouring of "Snuff" and the playful "Kingdom of Dreams" demonstrate how such busy and complex numbers can be turned into relatively easy listens thanks to Sherinian's keyboard acrobatics. On bass, both Jimmy Johnson and Rufus Philbot (Al Di Meola) do a great job. The bass is loud and central on pretty much every track, and complements the tunes perfectly. As for Donati, the drum solo on the final track is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Those kick drums are phenomenal. Quantum is going to be one of the best instrumental discs of the year. Period.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sleeping In Traffic: Part One; Brand: Beardfish; Review: Sweden's Beardfish make their debut on Inside Out with the first part of their Sleeping in Traffic piece. Firmly rooted in the aesthetic stylings of 70's prog, most notably Gentle Giant, Genesis, and Zappa, Beardfish's aim is certainly not to break any new ground, but rather to pen songs that carry a distinct retro prog rock sound to them -- and this disc is testimony to their success. Starting with the beautiful accordion melody of "On the Verge of Sanity", the album moves into heavier (as in purer) prog rock domain, at once evoking the surprising turns of Gentle Giant's earlier work, particularly in the way the acoustic guitars are arranged. The song is blessed with big dynamic shifts, rocking hard thanks to the tight rhythm section; and then slowing down in order to create dense, instrumental passages. Rikard Sjoblorn is not merely responsible for the amazing vocals here -- he also plays guitars, accordion, percussion, and keyboards. The synth work on the album is uniformly gorgeous -- the blazing organ sound is reminiscent of Uriah Heep or even early Deep Purple, but the piece also stands out for its Zappa-esque craziness and the maniacal screaming at the finale. More of the band's Zappa influence can be detected on the twelve-minute monster "Roulette", which starts out more in the vein of Supertramp's melodic signature and then transforms into Camel's smooth acoustic guitar arrangements. Having toured with Paatos before, the stark, brooding tone of their music is carried over and comes through during the middle section, which is ultimately darker than anything else on this album. Sjoblorn doubles his vocals here, creating a somewhat disturbed "internal dialogue" vibe, as his subconscious spews forth psychotic statements to contrast his regular, more heldback vocal style. This is also the most political song on the album, and would make for a good piece to introduce the current sound of Beardfish. Slower songs also permeate the album: the Beatles-like piano ballad "Dark Poet" has a sublime vocal harmony while on the acoustic piece "Without You", a short but moving cut, the band opts for a more solemn statement. As for the instrumental aspect of the CD, the Floydian guitar work in the intro of "The Ungodly Slob" resolves with calculated fuzzed out sections and an addition of myriad instruments, including ethnic drumming. It would be interesting to hear more instrumental pieces on the following album, which is said to be in the works already. Also, if you enjoy jam-like sessions where the bands do not lose focus of context, then "And Never Know" is your song. It moves in a freestyle jam, highlighting monstrous rhythm instensity and ferocious guitar work not to mention funky bass throbs taking the lead at times. This band has already two other albums under their belt, but due to lack of promotion, they went unheard even by most prog fans. Now that they're on Inside Out, hopefully their back catalog will receive some attention as well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anima; Brand: Spheric Univers Experience; Review: Anima, Spheric Universe Experience's second disc, sees the French prog metal embarking on the sound they introduced with their debut Mental Torments. Both musically and from a production standpoint, Anima is a like logical extension to its predecessor, except that it has some faster and heavier songs. The instrumental sections on the album are longer, still carried by a strong mix of guitar and keyboard wizardy as well as grooving drum and bass battery. Fred Colombo still extracts all kinds of weird noises from his keyboard, from modern synth elements to jazzy clean phrases. On the opener "Sceptic", he injects a modern synth line into mix providing the backbone to Vince Benaim's shattering rhythm guitars. After a brief vocal melody, the band immediately launch into an extended Images & Words-era Dream Theater worship, exchanging riffs and melodies and concluding the piece with a choppy unison solo. Franck Garcia lays down both multiple vocal parts and aggressive parts, as he did on the debut, at the end as well. His singing isn't as aggressive on this album as it was before though; he seems to have toned it down a bit. He uses more harmonies this time, but I feel the catchy melodic edge of his vocals on the previous album seem to be of secondary importance here. This time the songs are more centred around the guitar, bass, and keyboard combination. Starting with the moody "Being", the band offers a good dose of Dream Theater-inspired instrumental music, save for the little spoken section in the intro; and lets the keyboardist steal the show on the brief "Stormy Dome", led by a neat piano melody and gorgeous string arrangements -- there is also a sweet female voice singing wordless melodies distinctly in the background. On the more straightahead cut "World of Madness", Colombo's kinetic keyboard intro is very evocative of the intro on Pain of Salvation's "Inside", but the band also brings to mind the fusion-inspired instrumental aesthetic of Liquid Tension Experiment thanks to the fluid guitar lines and Portnoy-like drum fills. Garcia also sings differently here: he goes from fragile whispers to sing-along choruses and soaring screams. There is a good amount of spoken parts on the songs from different languages. You can hear Japanese, Italian, Spanish, and French among others; and it may be linked to the theme of the CD which I haven't examined thoroughly as of yet. Important to note is that pretty much every member has contributed to lyric writing, so Anima is certainly a band effort in this respect. The two songs I enjoyed the most on this album are "End of Trauma" and "The Key", in part because they seem like the perfect follow-up cuts to the songs on Mental Torments. Bringing forth the highly pronounced bass lines of John Drai, the songs groove with intense rhythmic awareness, sweeping keyboard melodies, and shred-intensive guitar and vocal attacks brimming with energy. Anima is certainly a strong addition to Spheric Universe Experience's discography, but I don't think it quite matches the intensity and emotional power of Mental Torments.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wolves; Brand: Deadlock; Review: Deadlock's follow-up to 2005's Earth. Revolt sees the band taking their established sound a few steps further. Lead singer Sabine Weniger has now officially become a full-time member besides her role as keyboard player. Weniger has a more prominent role than before on this disc, duelling with Johannes Prem on pretty much every tune and adding in contrast to his brutal death metal growls. Though not very different, unlike its predecessor, Wolves sees longer compostions imbued with extended amounts of instumental moments. "We Shall All Bleed" begins with rolling drums and a brutal death growl before Weniger comes in with her angelic voice delivering sweet melodies. There is a lengthy instrumental passage, boasting a kinetic keyboard and guitar unison solo before concluding with an acoustic guitar coda. Similarly, the guitar and keyboard duel of "Crown of Creation", occasionally broken off by nice piano interludes, is among the more instrumentally rich parts of the album. This track comes across as particularly heavy, especially after the somewhat poppy "Dark Cell", full with relentlessly fast double bass drums and catchy vocal lines from Weniger. "Losers' Ballet", sung entirely with death growls, has a cool piano intro, lots of string elements, and interesting symphonic excursions -- certainly one of Deadlock's more engaging tracks. Strangely, there is also a weird disco number on the CD in the form of "End Begins", chock full of electronic beats and a happy-go melody, but all of a sudden it drops out, guitarists Sebastian Reichl and Gert Rymen come in raging with a killer guitar lead and tear the roof up. Certainly an interesting combination, but this, to me, is not where Deadlock's strength lies. Trying to be "progressive" just for the sake of it may alienate some of their older fan base and whether it will gain them new listeners is not certain either. As good as some of the songs on this album are, it is questionable how well these instrumental breaks work within the confines of melodic death metal with the occasional gothy keyboard work and female vocals. The guys are certainly capable of playing, but this is certainly not the medium to prove it. I'm of the opinion they put out a much more focused and effective release with Earth. Revolt. The album was mixed by Jacob Hansen and has his trademark style all over it. But the recording (done by the band themselves) of the kick drums could have been better -- just a minor complaint.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stranger In This Town; Brand: Richie Sambora; Review: After achieving so much with their band, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora decided to go their own ways and see what they could do as solo artists. Jon Bon Jovi's Blaze of Glory proved to be an immediate success, both musically and commercially; while Sambora released his debut a year later to mixed reviews. Although the average Bon Jovi fan took to the album right away, from a commercial standpoint, it didn't earn Sambora quite what he may have hoped for. Regardless, musically, Stranger in This Town is a terribly overlooked gem, and it exudes unadulterated songwriting brilliance. Behind Richie Sambora, there are two of his long-time band mates: David Bryan on keyboards and Tico Torres on drums. Torres' playing strictly serves the purpose of the songs; he doesn't really do any lengthy drum acrobatics, but there are pieces that allow him to shine through. Bryan, on the other hand, is integral to the overall sound of the album, as his keyboards are, at some point, the defining factors of the songs. Also, he co-wrote two tracks: the beautiful album intro "Rest in Peace", a wonderful song based on profound blues licks and Sambora's emotive vocals; and the ambitious title track, which sees the duo merging nifty acoustic guitars with delicate synth lines. Bryan is also highly audible on the truly moving ballad "Father Time", complete with Desmond Child's signature hooks, distant female vocals, and a warm melodic edge. Though a solo album, only three of the ten songs were written entirely by Richie Sambora. "Church of Desire" is the mid-paced piece, centred around moody keyboards and blues-inflected guitar riffs. The song is carried by a thick bass groove, and Sambora's guitar solo is truly heartfelt and emotional. On "River of Love", Tony Levin's bass arpeggios become central to the piece, especially when supported by Torres' spare drum beats. Finally, "Mr Bluesman", by many known as the album's minor hit, Sambora's greatest influence, Eric Clapton, makes a guest appearance playing an improvised blues solo where he rips it up. Despite its five-minute running time, even Torres gets to play a brief drum solo, yet it's all within the context of the song and the writing is truly impressive. That said, the album being more on the blues rock spectrum of things didn't really produce any radio hits. Actually, Sambora did collaborate with Desmond Child on two tracks, one of them being "Rosie", arguably the most popular cut off of this track. Also co-written by Jon Bon Jovi, the piece has a solid hook, but truth be told, it does not gel that well with the rest of the pieces, which seem more honest and from the heart. Likewise, "One Light Burning" might have been his take on poppier songwriting; he tries to merge cool beats and percussion work with Randy Jackson's bass playing whilst injecting the piece with a sing-along main chorus, but it doesn't really work -- Sambora is simply more of a blues-ridden rock guitarist than someone who can churn out easily accessible melodies. That's obviously Jon Bon Jovi's; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Versions; Brand: Poison the Well; Review: Considering Poison The Well has had close to fifty member changes over the years, it is amazing how they are still able to preserve the core elements of their music, without falling into the trap of being terribly repetitive like most of the metalcore bands out there. Versions sees them developing a sound that marks their music more diverse than anything else they have released before. They have abandoned the more straightforward aspects of their earlier work, and to compensate for the lack of ever-present energy, they have incorporated an array of rich instrumentation, including non-metal ingredients like banjo, mandolin, et cetera. This has certainly enhanced the melodic quality of songs like "Letter Thing" and "Breathing's for the Birds", both of which seamlessly juxtapose their aggressive vocal stylings and intense guitar riffery with more cultivated melodic arrangements and escalating synth parts. While the brutal aggression certainly takes a secondary role here, the clever arrangements and solid production work perfectly to highlight the music on the entire album. Chris Hornbrook's drumming and percussion throughout the CD is stunning, especially on the two shorter cuts "Prematurito El Baby" and "Composer Meet Corpse", complete with killer sound effects and rhythmic clusters. As for Ryan Primack's guitar work, he starts most of the tunes with clean acoustic intros, as on "Nagaina" -- a strong mixture of sludge-driven riffage and pain-ridden vocals -- and "Pleading Post", arguably the zenith of this album in that it fills large spacey sections with myriad background noises propelled by enigmatic vocal shifts and super melodic guitar transitions. Having had too many problems with their prior bassists, Primack also handles the bass duties on the album, but honestly, the bass sound on the CD is buried way too deep and barely audible on some of the songs. The band would be wise to find a full-time bassist for the future. The album's most eclectic song is "Slow Good Morning", where the band distills weird sounds into acidic dissonant forays. The banjo and modulating keyboard melody in the background form the backbone to the otherwise acoustically driven composition. Minimalistic riffs make up most of "You Will Not Be Welcomed" while "Riverside" is a pure ballad that will even surprise the long-time Poison The Well fan, but it's very well done and a fitting piece before the poweful finale. If you like metalcore that transcends this limited genre and brings in lots of variety, you shouldn't pass Versions up.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ziltoid The Omniscient; Brand: Devin Townsend; Review: Something inside me says people reviewing this album will focus more on the concept rather than the music presented on this disc, so I'll leave it up to them. All I will say is that Devin Townsend Presents Ziltoid the Omniscient is a sci-fi tale about a guitar-playing alien who pays a visit to planet Earth. To further investigate the plot, all you need to do is buy the album and read the booklet, which includes all lyrics except for "Hyperdrive", and it also features passages that are not sung/spoken in the songs -- then you should have a fairly solid idea on what the story is about. For starters, Ziltoid is a solo album in the truest sense. Devin Townsend wrote all songs, recorded, mixed, and engineered everything by himself. He also played all instruments, except the drums which he programmed on the Drumkit From Hell software that Meshuggah's Fredrik Thordendal sent him. Granted the drumming does not sound as organic as, say, Terria, the somewhat industrial beats, juxtaposed with tons of samples, give off an alien-like quality to the songs, which definitely fits the concept of this album. This is also what distinguishes Ziltoid from the earlier Devin Townsend records musically. Other than that, traces of both Synchestra and Accelerated Evolution, the two previous albums, can be detected in some of the songs here. A good dose of aggressiveness and openness of either album turn into pivotal points in the course of the album, depending on the mood intended to portray. Those who consider Ocean Machine Devin Townsend's unrivaled masterpiece will be pleasantly surprised by tracks like "Hyperdrive", which is defined by clean harmonies, liquidy guitar phrases, and the droning, meditative atmosphere. Also, "Color Your World", at nearly ten minutes, establishes a context in which Devin deftly packs both the harmonic brilliance of Terria and the peaceful, unique aural experience of Ocean Machine. The classically influenced midsection transitions into the Biomech aesthetic so seamlessly that you feel like you're listening to both masterpieces in a single composition. Speaking of seamless transitions, the spoken-like death growls on "Planet Smasher" turn into Devin's trademark confident clean singing in the blink of an eye as well. "By Your Command" and "Ziltoida Attaxx!!!" both contain Devin's theatrical, less intensified SYL type of growling fused with hilarious lyrical content, and his classic epic arrangements defined by rising synth modulations and furious double bass drum battery. The latter even features an unexpected guitar solo atop a dissonant rhythmic cluster. To balance things out, Devin offers his deepest clean singing to date -- which eerily evokes Dan Swano at his most expressive -- on another mammoth number, "Solar Winds", poised to become many a fan's favourite off of this record, along with "The Greys", a modern take on the sounds of his first solo album. Halfway through the song, heavier guitar accents come in rolling whilst the classical touch of Terria's symphonic quality crops up. This is music with immense impact. Period. Being a rock-opera kind of thing, there is plenty of narrated sections on most of; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Enter Deception; Brand: Cellador; Review: Rumour has it that it all started in 2005 when Cellador opened a show for The Black Dahlia Murder and managed to give them their demo which eventually landed in the office of Metal Blade, and from then on it all happened very quickly. However, what's more interesting is that all these years I've been listening to US metal bands I haven't come across one single group that successfully carries on in the Euro power metal style until now. Cellador is arguably the first and only American band that plays a distinct power metal style without delving into thrash-based rhythms and throaty vocal lines. Consisting of eight tracks, the album packs unbridled speed, driven by ultra-fast double bass drums, grooving twin guitars, and searing, high-register vocals by Michael Gremio. This guy sounds so uncannily like Kiske in his heyday or Gamma Ray's Kai Hansen when he decides to tear the stratosphere with his maniacal screams, it's totally unbelievable. The energetic, fists-in-the-air opener "Leaving All Behind" kicks the album off in grand fashion, carried by pumping rhythms and crushing twin guitar harmonies while "A Sign Far Beyond", arguably the best cut on the album, drives their music into the more aggressive territory of power metal, perfected by mid-90's Gamma Ray. Cellador's songs boast irresistible choruses, as on "Forever Unbound" and the epic "Seen Through Time", both graced by the genre's hallmarks. The tasty guitar opening of "Wakening" belies that this song was actually released in 2006 as opposed to 1987 when Helloween-style power metal was taking the entire metal community by storm. Lyrically, unlike most Euro power metallers, Cellador focuses on more personal issues rather than fantasy-based themes or tales of knights and epic battles. That said, Euro power metal genre is a pretty limited genre to expand on. Over the past two decades, everything has been done by countless bands, so it would be wrong to claim Cellador is by any stretch of the word doing anything remotely original or unheard of. However, judging by the songs on this disc, originality must be the band's last concern; they seem more interested in having fun while playing the music they enjoy. And in that, they are more than successful. They've made a great start. Let's see what happens when they put out their sophomore album. Check Cellador out if you're into bands like Gamma Ray, Helloween, Edguy, Stratovarius, and Sonata Arctica -- or pretty much any other Euro power metal act.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A New Disease Is Born; Brand: Nightrage; Review: Nightrage is no longer the super group driven by multi-project guitarist Gus G. and former At The Gates vocalist Tomas Lindberg, as both members have left the band, the former to concentrate on his own bands and the latter because of creative differences. Now, if you've never heard the band's earlier albums, then there is no reason why you wouldn't enjoy A New Disease is Born, assuming you're a fan of In Flames circa Clayman. This album packs Gothenburg-style melodic death, driven by Marios Iliopoulos' melodic guitar signature, and the stomping rhythm work by Henric Karlsson on bass and new member Alex Svenningson on drums. New vocalist Jimmie Strimell of Death Destruction and Cipher System fame is a fitting replacemet, as he is capable of both face-ripping death growls and clean vocal harmonies, absent on earlier songs. Tracks like the brutal opener "Spiral", busy with an onslaught of rhythm battery and sledgehammer riffery, also contain acoustic breaks for clean-sung parts. Similarly, "Reconcile" merges Strimmell's three different vocal styles into a relatively compact composition. It is filled with clean choruses, low death growls, and more modern metalcore-like screaming. Topped by a catchy guitar motif, this song is a real winner. If you enjoyed In Flames' Clayman album, carried by an instantly gripping melodic quality and simple-to-follow song structures, the accessible guitar theme of "Scathing" and the folksy power metal-style melodies of "Scars of the Past" are going to be your favourites. The latter is actually a number that boasts killer staccato riffery in its intro, but with a progression into more melodic territory it offers memorable licks and guitar phrases. "Death-like Silence" is also among the heaviest songs on the album. Octopus drumming, crushing bass arpeggios, and precise rhythm guitars culminate in a melodic finale, where even the suffocating death growls turn into an anthemic pop chorus. The last song, which is the title track, is a sweet instrumental based on beautiful acoustic guitars and definitely worth a listen. A New Disease is Born is far from original, but within the realm of Swedish melodic death, it is an album many may enjoy. The production was handled by Jacob Hansen which means the CD sounds exactly like everything else he produced, be it Mercenary, Hatesphere, or Fear My Thoughts. Contrary to many fans' opinions, I've never been too fond of his production work, as I don't favour overtly compressed records. They sort of flatten the dynamic quality in my opinion. Still sonically, the album is certainly packed with energy that suits these songs. That said, the earlier albums are slightly more to my liking, as they carry Gus G.'s signature all over them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cortical Tectonics; Brand: Canvas Solaris; Review: Canvas Solaris' previous album Penumbra Diffuse was such a stylistic transition from their extreme technical metal roots to a more atmospheric, keyboard-heavy style that many of their fans were utterly surprised. Without abandoning their calculated compositions infused with thunderous rhythm syncopation and driving lead solos, they adopted well written synth patches and acoustic passages for good measure. Their new CD Cortical Tectonics now achieves the perfect balance between the band's earlier heavy stylings and their new-found progressive experiment. The six tracks on the CD are carefully divided into two parts, with the first two songs, "Berserker Hypothesis" and "Sinusoid Mirage", being the ruthless heavy pieces, dominated by Nathan Sapp and Ben Simpkins' heavy-duty guitar riffs and Hunter Ginn's rolling drum work. The guitarists fire off shred-intensive electric riffs with machine-like precision, underscoring the odd-metered drumming. The first track does boast a little acoustic passage defined by a very creepy tone, but other than that it is quite heavy. "Sinusoid Mirage", on the other, starts out slowly, borrowing some cool shaker sounds by guest musician Matt Johnson, and highlights the glistening cymbal work and yet another storm of doomsday riffs. The band's brooding atmospheric side comes through on "Interface", which also sees a great clean acoustic part by Brian Simpkins, who is normally responsible for the bass and rhythm guitars in the band. Sapp injects an elaborate synth patch into the song lending it a great melody, and the bass motif that rumbles atop is amazing. Ginn concludes the song with his trademark glockenspiel, but his diverse rhythm work isn't as profound on Cortical Tectonics as it was on Penumbra Diffuse. This certainly has to do with the album being more guitar-influenced, thus leaving him less space to demonstrate his ethnic drumming. That said, on the 17-minute "Reticular Consciousness", the band's longest song to date, every aspect of their previous work is emphasized. Ginn gets to lay down a killer tribal solo employing lots of conga and Moroccan Clay drumming, whilst Sapp exacts myriad synth tones through the song's course. He even uses the weird Tangerine Dream-like patch somewhere in the end, which greatly adds to the diversity of the composition. "Gamma Knife" emphasizes intricate rhythms and arrangements, exuding double-tracked atonal licks and rapid-fire riffery. At one point, the riffing becomes so intense and bent that it is wrenched into a nasty breakdown, which creates a dense, suffocating attack. "Rhizome", on the other hand, is the band's study in the light/dark contrast a la King Crimson and Mr Bungle. It starts out very mellow, bringing forth eerie acoustic guitars, but they quickly morph into hammering electric leads that collapse in on themselves. The packaging of the album is almost identical to Penumbra Diffuse, with a carboard pack with the credits and liner notes written inside. As with its predecessor, the production and mixing is great, rendered with a strange immediacy to it. The trio in Canvas Solaris still continue to churn out uncompromising compositions and defy traditional musical standards. This album is yet another excellent addition to their body of work, but to; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Paradise Lost; Brand: Symphony X; Review: It took five long years for Symphony X to follow up their previous album The Odyssey. Their new disc, Paradise Lost, based on John Milton's work, resumes several threads in their music that was largely prevalant on its predecessor. The band continues to mine a solid, crunch-filled heavy metal stomp, retaining some of their progressive elements throughout the process. However, on some of the songs, there is a noticeable shift towards a more groove-oriented approach, driven by Michael Romeo's unmistakable rhythm work. For instance, "Domination", although not among the most innovative tracks on the album, bears a certain similarity to Pantera in its tenacious, corrosive riffing, while also taking on the band's classic neoclassical qualities. As stated previously by the band, the CD is perhaps their darkest work thematically. Paradise Lost is not a concept album, but it explores similar themes, mostly revolving around the fight between good and evil; and in order to portray these moods successfully, vocalist Russell Allen opts for more use of harsh vocals, thus eliminating some of his soaring vocal harmonies that defined albums like The Divine Wings of Tragedy and V. The style of vocals employed through most of the album may not sit well with some of the fans on first listen, but given the dark subject matter, there is no denying that the album benefits from this singing style greatly. On "Set the World on Fire", the band exudes rapid-fire riffery and super aggressive vocals in a V-meets-The Odyssey style, but be forewarned: the song is crushingly intense. It always strikes me as funny whenever I hear metal fans complaining about an album of their favourite band being too heavy or aggressive. Allen's voice is a lot grittier for a reason. He employs the grit for more elaborate dynamic expression. He instilled that style years ago, way back on The Divine Wings of Tragedy; this album sees him taking that style a step further. Similarly, guitarist Michael Romeo uses a range of different scales to implicate various emotions this time around. I absolutely love how he takes a main riff and then does interesting permutations off of it through the whole record. Michael Pinella also boosts that tone in the songs, best heard on "The Walls of Babylon", where a combination of strong guitar fury and pounding drum attack is wrung through the piece, resolving with dark choirs and a cool guitar "chorus". Even Mike Lepond gets a great bass solo spot here preceding the maniacal instrumental frenzy. The title track, made up of a beautiful keyboard intro, gently strummed acoustic guitars and excellent clean vocals, recalls other Symphony X classics like "Accolade" and "Communion and the Oracle", more so in their rhythm construction and evocative flow than musically. They're both defined by excellent dynamic shifts, emotional guitar-keyboard flights, powerful vocal harmonies, and thunderous rhythm aesthetics. However, there are also two cuts that are relatively new entries into Symphony X's body of work: "The Serpent's Kiss" stands out for its unusual middle section, weird orchestral parts and other stylistic devices whilst "The Sacrifice" anchors; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Road Back Home: The Best Of; Brand: The Flower Kings; Review: The Road Back Home is a two-disc compilation album put together by Flower Kings leader Roine Stolt. Not only does it feature the band's relatively more compact and "easy listening" cuts, the songs have also been treated to a new mixing job by Stolt. Add to that several newly recorded guitar solos as well as some backing vocals by Roine Stolt and Hasse Froberg. Some of the numbers have just been remixed whilst some others also feature previously unheard passages, instrumentation, and vocal parts. The song long-time fans will want to hear the most will probably be "Little Deceiver", a leftover from the band's Rainmaker sessions. It is an interesting experiment where the tune wanders off more into Dire Straits-goes-country territory, bringing forth a true solo statement from Stolt and Froberg who are responsible for everything this song has to offer: unusual harmony vocals, cool loops and sound effects, and steady, straightforward drumming. Also new on the CD is the band's Genesis tribute "Cinema Show", originally recorded in 1998. Being one of the greatest Genesis songs ever, Stolt says the band was rather nervous while recording it, but the result is nothing short of mindblowing. The acoustic guitar tone, the layered melodies, the awesome vocal parts, and last but not the least, Tomas Bodin's mindblowingly beautiful key solo that not only honours Tony Banks' original work but also adds its own touch to it -- everything is phenomenal about this piece. As noted in the liner notes, that solo is testimony that "great keys can be played with emotion without a trace of blues or jazz". It would be impossible and meaningless to describe each song on this compilation. After all, they all represent a different era of the band; and they are meant to be enjoyed best in their original context. However, the little nuances brought out in the mixing stage do warrant a mention. "Cosmic Lover", for instance, features new vocal and some clarinet addition as well as a heavier focus on rhythm. This brings out the funky aesthetic and underscores the brilliant Beatles-like vocal harmony. "Stupid Girl" has a brand new guitar solo; and truth be told, I can't choose which one I like better cause the new one is truly sublime. Also, the guitar solo of "A Kings Prayer", one of the greatest Flower Kings songs ever, is different. I love how the deep message is conveyed on this one amidst glimmering acoustic guitar notes and McCartney-like vocal arrangements. The last few minutes of "Church of Your Heart" have been cut off, and rightly so. The result is a more direct and powerful tune driven by tons of organ work by Bodin and soaring harmonies by Hasse Froberg. The African tribal rhythms merge seamlessly with a gorgeous soprano sax arrangement on "Grand Old World" whilst "Monkey Business" proves once again why everything on Unfold the Future is gold. Jonas Reingold's fretless bass, Hasse Bruniusson's percussion rhythms, and Stolt's unmistakable guitars form the musical aspect of the otherwise tragic lyrical theme. Stolt's vocal part in the intro of "The; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ozzmosis; Brand: Ozzy Osbourne; Review: After Ozzy Osbourne's supposed retirement with 1991's No More Tears, he decided to make a comeback, enlisting the services of a host of songwriters, and thus rendering Ozzmosis his most project-like offering of his career. The songs on this album were penned by a number of musicians, all with totally different backgrounds; and therefore, they sound quite unlike Osbourne's other solo records, both musically and sonically. Ozzmosis is a sound cosmos primarily driven by producer Michael Beinhorn, known for his diverse work with artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Soul Asylum, Korn, and Soundgarden. While the album still involves the skills of Ozzy's long-time axeman Zakk Wylde, a good portion of his work has been treated to a more modern-conscious sound dynamic, often culminating in effect-laden passages. From the hugely successful power ballad "I Just Want You", co-written by Jim Vallance (Bryan Adams) to the more groovy "Thunder Underground", Wylde plays through an array of distorted sound collections, making it somewhat hard to discern his easily identifiable style. Still, the solo in the latter brilliantly demonstrates his trademark pinch harmonics and minor pentatonic scales squeezed into a brief interlude. Wylde does not get to play as many solos as he did on the previous albums, with one exception being the extended lead of "Denial", characterized by a multitude of processed vocal lines forming an internal dialogue and heavy dose of guitar synths and textures. The bass guitar work of this album was actually done by various musicians, including original bassist Todd Jensen (Hardline) and James Lomenzo (White Lion). Although neither player is credited in the booklet, some of the bass is very derivative of Lomenzo's work, particularly the stuff he dabbled with in Slash's Snakepit and Pride & Glory. It seems Geezer Butler pretty much just recorded over his work, adding in his own touch in the arrangements. The thick bass stomp of "See You on the Other Side", another power ballad whose lyrics were penned by Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister, is wrung through a dense sound structure albeit sounding a tad too 80's for this album. Also on "Perry Mason", the bass arrangement is stunning, defined by a solid low end. Arguably the best song on this album, "Perry Mason" starts off with eerie keyboards courtesy of Rick Wakeman and erupts with an equally riveting chord progression amidst slamming drum and bass battery. There is even a phenomenal bass solo on this song, and Deen Castronovo's drumming is amazing. John Purdell has contributed lyrics to several pieces, including the already mentioned "Perry Mason" and the somewhat overlooked "Tomorrow", engaging himself in lines such as "You don't have to leave the lights on | I'm so used to being blind", aptly matching the dark theme of the song. Ozzy's vocals are highly processed and there are unusual sound layerings built around a bass-heavy arrangement. It was definitely interesting to see Ozzy pushing the form of the envelope with this song. Before Ozzy recorded Ozzmosis, he had grouped with guitar wizard Steve Vai for a project called X-Ray. The duo had written several songs,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Selling Insincerity; Brand: Abigail's Ghost; Review: Selling Insincerity is the debut album of Abigail's Ghost, a young American band formed around the nucleus of guitarist and vocalist Joshua Theriot and bassist Kenneth Wilson. Though the band avoids categorization, their style of music mostly falls into progressive rock that emphasizes a blend of groove, spacey atmospheres, and excellent vocal harmonies. This is a self-released effort, drawing from a vast library of influences including Porcupine Tree, A Perfect Circle, Tool, Massive Attack, and Rush. The low bass drones of the album opener "Mazurka" lead into the rhythmically aware "Close", which immediately stands out for its Porcupine Tree-like vocal arrangement, sparse drum beats, and bleak synth lines. The chorus of the song is incredibly memorable, and helps thicken the already dense soundscape. You can hear lots of weird sound collections in the background if you listen with a good set of headphones. The song breaks down into a creepy middle section filled with cold acoustic guitars capped by powerful bass strokes and distant keyboards. Joshua Theriot employs a similar vocal recording technique to Steven Wilson; he utilises the same processed vocal style and laidback singing whilst continuously exerting a melodious delivery. His vocal melodies on songs like "Waiting Room" and "Seeping" are amazing. Though most will be reminded of Steven Wilson when hearing him sing, Theriot cites Chris Corner of IAMX and Sneaker Pimps as his main influence. He is also an excellent guitar player, adding varied guitar sounds to the compositions. He can go from elegiac lead playing on "Monochrome" to atonal expressions on "Love Sounds" and "Cerulean Blue", both of which boast a Belew-like tone and articulation. Kenneth Wilson's backing vocals and bass are equally important to the success of these songs. Not only is he a gifted songwriter, he is also an excellent producer given the duo's limited resources when recording this album. If it weren't for the amazing production, there is no way these songs would sound as good as they do. Wilson's bass playing is particularly central on "Cerulean Blue", complete with industrial-like beats, eerie sounds, and manipulated vocal parts. The mix on this song is phenomenal, blowing the listener away with killer right-left speaker panning. The other members' performance is awesome as well. The studio drummer did a great job, as he exerts both classic 4/4 beats and complex polyrhythms depending on the flow of the song (he is now replaced by permanent member John Patrick Rodrigue). They have also enlisted a second guitar player since they cut the record: Randy Paul. However, Joshua Theriot's guitar work is solid through and through with crunchy rhythms and excellent leads. Theriot has also recorded some synths along with keyboardist Brett Guillory who brings in Barbieri-like synth textures in order to reach necessary atmospheres. The lyrics are thought-provoking and match the incredible artwork perfectly. The image on the front cover gives a sense of separation while the baby doll lying on the ground in the foreground has ties to themes of abandonment, which is explored on the album. Also, "Sellout" could be read as a nod to Porcupine; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sum of No Evil; Brand: The Flower Kings; Review: Every new album from The Flower Kings may be misleading at first, as Roine Stolt always writes songs that reveal themselves upon repeat listenings. The Sum of No Evil proceeds in a similar style, exhibiting detailed arrangements that one may not notice right away. With the great Zoltan Csorsz back on drums, the unit's unbreakable rhythm battery is as strong as ever. Not that the previous album Paradox Hotel was a failure or anything, but it's a given that most Flower Kings fans would prefer Csorsz over most drummers. Stolt has explained that this album would be a return-to-the-roots effort, as they had removed themselves from jazz and pop as much as possible. This is true to a certain extent; The Sum of No Evil contains fewer pop parts, but with the inclusion of Csorsz who has always been associated with the norms of jazzy playing, it would be unthinkable for the band to delve into some fusion-laden sections. This is particularly audible on the monster track "Love is the Only Answer" which sharply contrasts the opener "One More Time", a vintage prog rock piece filled with a strong rhythmic angle, warm guitar melodies, and Retropolis-like synth patches. The analogue vibe is more effective than before, which could be attributed to the fact that they recorded the album on 70's vintage recording equipment. "Love is the Only Answer", on the other hand, is just shy of the 25-minute mark. This one contains lots of theatrical vocals by Roine Stolt, where he moves from laidback soft sung parts to more aggressive sections in order to portray the necessary mood. The heavier passages are often underpinned by squealing keyboards and tense instrumental breaks; this is also where the transition into a jazzier space becomes inevitable. Thanks to Reingold's fretless bass guitar, Bodin's spacey synth fizzles, and Csorsz' eloquent rhythm punctuation, the band put their ear for delicate improvisation on display. Bodin's solo where he extrapolates all kinds of synth tones is simply fascinating and forms the precursor to the two guitarists' wonderful guitar cascades. Though not a lengthy piece, the album's standout song for me is "Trading My Soul", which somewhat belies Stolt's argument that The Sum of No Evil is a pure prog rock statement. The darkness factor that comes to the fore on this ballad is right up there with the Gildenlow-sung Adam & Eve material, or the much-overlooked "Bavarian Skies" off of the previous album. It is rather interesting to hear all these "Flower Kings never experiment much" arguments, and when they do, putting out material in the vein of "Trading My Soul", their core fan base gets annoyed. Complete with lots of Hammond and Moog sounds, some manipulated vocal arrangements, and exquisite synth flights, the dynamic quality of the song is achieved through plenty of rhythmic variations. It's an excellent track with a dark, menacing atmosphere and a rousing chorus. The guitar work on the title track is the best on CD, dominated by bluesy voicings and almost shred-instensive expression. The instrumental "Flight 999 Brimstone Air" is a bit in; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Road Home; Brand: Jordan Rudess; Review: It's funny to hear all those negative opinions on Jordan Rudess being a mechanical player. That's the reason most people who don't like post-Moore era give when asked why they don't like Jordan Rudess. Well, those who discredit his playing will have to give The Road Home a close listen, and see how soulful a player Rudess truly is. Maybe then they'll also go back to his other solo albums and discover how unique his compositions are. He is not just a technical musician with no understanding of songwriting. On the contrary, to Rudess composition comes first; technique is just applied to express the necessary feelings. On this tribute album, Rudess covers songs from some of prog's greatest bands, including Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, and ELP. The CD starts with the Genesis track "Dance on a Volcano", sung by former Spock's Beard vocalist Neal Morse. It's weird cause Morse sounds totally different from what he did in Spock's Beard or Transatlantic. Laden with various sound effects by Rudess, the song is mostly played true to its original form, but you can see how bits and pieces of Rudess' vision have been injected here and there. Guitar virtuoso Marco Sfogli (James Labrie, John Macaluso & Union Radio) plays a smooth, somewhat unexptected solo here while Rudess' long-time friend Rod Morgenstein is on drums through the whole album. His fills on this track are amazing, and Rudess closes the piece in grand fashion. In the middle part of Yes' "Sound Chaser", the atmosphere becomes so dense and heavy that I can't help but think no one else could have interpreted this piece so well except Jordan Rudess. One can notice how much he's been influenced by greats such as Rick Wakeman, Patrick Moraz, and Tony Banks, but there is still something in Rudess' playing that gives him his own flair. With Nick D'Virgilio and Kip Winger on vocals, this track lends itself to modern-day soundscapes as well, but there is still plenty of vintage keyboard material present here. Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson appears on "Tarkus", along with Kip Winger and guitar god Ron Thal, among others. At over 22 minutes, this is the centrepiece of the album, and the track that sees the most variations from Rudess. His synth lines are simply gorgeous here, as is the tenacious drumming. The busy keyboard run in the beginning is my favourite, not only on this song but possibly the whole record. Ricky Garcia's guitar solo laidback and natural; it fits the flow perfectly. I had no idea he was capable of so many diverse styles, and hearing Steven Wilson on a vintage prog tune is great as well. Over three minutes, "Piece of the Pi" is an original song by Jordan Rudess. It is a perfect amalgamation of the 70's and current prog music scene, as it feels like vintage prog played and recorded on today's equipment. It's a fun, playful tune, slightly similar to the stupifying solo material Rudess does on stage. I always thought it'd be great if he recorded something in this vein,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Paramount; Brand: Sieges Even; Review: Paramount is Sieges Even's second album from their recent song-based era. The band embark on a similar sound experiment to the one they displayed on The Art of Navigating by the Stars, but on this platter, they present us individual songs rather than a single theme, while also incorporating some newer elements and creative ideas into their songcraft. The addition of Dutch vocalist Arno Menses to the band's lineup has certainly paved a new way for Sieges Even. Now they are unafraid to go into directions they would have never risked a decade ago. While it may forever be argued as to which album from the recent period is better, there is no denying that Arno Menses provides a much more confident delivery on Paramount compared to the previous disc, bringing to the table more mellow material as well as AOR-influenced ideas. The vocal melodies are a lot more 'poppy' in that they have a gripping overtone and are wrapped by beautiful harmonies, and they are rarely challenged by technical guitar and bass arrangements, unlike their older albums. Utilising lots of modern sounds and synthesizers, the album opener "When Alpha and Omega Collide" unleashes a hypnotic synth line in its intro, before Alex Holzwarth's rolling drum battery enters the piece, becoming the instant highlight. His tone, his timing, and his unique style of drumming make this song one of the best drum performances of the year, alongside the first song on John Macaluso's solo album, except that "When Alpha and Omega Collide" doesn't possess the same immediacy. Rather, it comes to the fore upon repeat listens, but I assure you it's so amazing that you will want to hear this album just because of the drumming. The crunchy guitar work during the heavier moments is quickly replaced by clean-toned acoustic guitars and Menses' echoic vocalizations (listen carefully to discover a wealth of nuances in the mix), which are amazing in and of themselves. Although some have claimed that this disc is a bit heavier than its predecessor, I beg to differ. While it contains some heavier guitar work in some places, overall it's cut from the same cloth as The Art of Navigating by the Stars. Actually it features more prominent use acoustic guitars courtesy of Markus Steffen, whose understanding of melody and arrangement remains unrivaled in German prog. Even the slightly heavier stuff such as "Tidal", driven by a solid guitar attack and manipulated vocals in its first half, boasts plenty of mood-intensive passages, filled with discreet keyboard effects and acoustic guitars. I love how a fat bass figure takes the lead atop repeated synth melodies while atmospheric sound collections waft across the body of the song. And to top it all off, there is a unique acoustic guitar solo at the end. "Eyes Wide Open" is a testament to the band being open to different styles since Menses' arrival. This is an AOR ballad, carried by a nice melody and an infectious chorus. It is determined by multiple backing harmonies and Menses' lead part that stands out, creating an internal; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frames; Brand: Oceansize; Review: After issuing a set of EPs and singles, United Kingdom's Oceansize made a strong start with their highly acclaimed debut Effloresce in 2003 and backed it up with Everyone into Position two years later. Though there is no general consensus as to which album is more successful, it seems the opinions are based on the listeners' expectations moreso than the musical quality put on display. In many ways, Frames evokes the denser, more detailed sound of Effloresce, in part because it was produced by the same engineer, Chris Sheldon. Unlike the Coldplay guy who worked on Everyone into Position, Sheldon favours a sharper production with more space. That, however, is where the similarities between the first and third albums end, as Frames sees the band expand on a more accessible soundscape than either of its predecessors. With the exception of track two, "Unfamiliar", the album forges its own path relying heavily on atmospheric depth and melancholy-inducing elements. The aforementioned "Unfamiliar" feels like a leftover from their earlier sessions, given its brisk rhythm guitar attacks, alternative rock-styled vocal delivery which occasionally borders on aggressive onslaughts, and heavy finish, amidst a dense pool of wailing guitars and pounding drum beats. It is questionable how well this kind of aggression suits the otherwise mid-tempo-paced material on the album, one exception being "Sleeping Dogs and Dead Lions". However, the tracklisting of Frames deems it necessary for such a bludgeoning piece to appear between the experimental instrumental cut and powerful finale. This song unleashes a wave of dissonance, rarely heard on their other albums, and erupts into a bass-centred rhythm, underpinned by maniacal screaming, heavy drum syncopation, and violent, relatively more technical instrumentation. The frequent incorporation of synths on some of the tunes has rendered them more spacey, particularly on "Trail of Fire" and "Savant". The former is a ballad-like anthem, focusing on solo piano; and a steady, powerful build-up with lofty acoustic guitars and whisper-like vocal manipulations. Oceansize creates an epic in the form of "Savant": it has a cinematic bent to it, sort of like a movie soundtrack. Driven by drawn-out instruments, mellow vocal lines, and cool percussion, the ending boasts an almost classically inspired coda -- it's truly beautiful. Vocalist Mike Vennart gives a semi-spoken, semi-sung performance on "Only Twin", surrounded by shades of synth layers, and a tenacious, drum machine-like cadence. However, it isn't until the ten-minute instrumental "An Old Friend of the Christies" kicks in when it becomes apparent how talented this young band really is. The funereal acoustic guitars, doomy drumming a la early 90's British doom acts, and a lucid string element form the framework for the ambitious composition. Halfway through, three-part guitar melodies are filtered through myriad sound effects in order to create a thicker, heavier body. The way each repeated note grows to an epic-size monster at the end is testimony to their potential. The first and last songs are in a way direct opposites to each other. The opener boasts overtly repeated guitar notes overlapping the big drum sound and rising to complex crescendos, whilst the title; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: One Thousand Years; Brand: Trey Gunn; Review: Trey Gunn is without doubt one of the most gifted and creative musicians in the progressive rock scene. Most know him because of his decade-long stint with Robert Fripp and King Crimson, one of the greatest prog rock bands ever. Gunn is both a schooled artist and one who has learned a lot through relentless touring with artists that include Brian Eno, Tool, Tony Levin, and Azam Ali to name a few. But besides the hundred-plus albums he has played on, he also has a solo career which he started in 1994 with One Thousand Years, an album he put together shortly after his trio with Robert Fripp and David Sylvian. Undoubtedly influenced by Fripp's keen sense of eclectism, particularly in the guitar work, Trey Gunn also marries unconventional song elements, which are predominantly based on eastern soundscapes with a vast array of percussion and drum work. Known for his mastery of the Chapman Stick, an odd guitar-meets-bass-like electric instrument, Trey Gunn also does some vocals on this disc, which is vastly absent on his successive solo material. This, in a way, makes One Thousand Years a more unique listening experience, as it deftly mixes Persian and Indian-like female vocals with Gunn's elabore drone experiments and various ethnic percussion. Gunn shares the vocals with Serpentine on "The Night Air", in which he assumes a spoken part in the background as well as a melodically driven harmony towards the end. Gunn's singing varies greatly from that of a typical singer-songwriter artist, as the vocal pieces seem more like a stream of consciousness than vocal-based cuts. "The Screen Door and the Flower Girl", for instance, establishes an atmospheric core, utilising lots of stretched notes atop a groovy bass line and eerie percussion. Likewise, "Killing for London" is an ambient cut that contains a good amount of Eastern percussion thanks to Pat Masteletto, with whom Gunn would go on to join King Crimson and play on Azam Ali's exceptionally beautiful Elysium for the Brave album some fifteen years later. The blend of dissonant guitar voicings, white noise, and female vocals culminates in a very exciting ending. A thick bass presence is woven into the complex "Real Life" in a pool of myriad soundscapes and lucid synth textures forming a mystical aura, while "Into the Wood" boasts a more open sound structure, highlighting lush acoustic guitars and wordless female harmonies. Gunn's electric solo here sends chills up and down the spine. The solo is sort of like Ron Jarzombek's work on the first Gordian Knot album except that Gunn's playing is a lot more introspective. It is one of the finest solos I've heard from him. The totally peaceful "The Gift" is an endless journey on a vast sound field, with only shimmering notes and drone-like melodic growth. The title track is somewhat similar, erasing the lines between ambient music and post-rock. There are also little nuances carved out in Gunn's impeccable production work. The operatic female voice on "Take This Wish" was something I noticed only after the fifth or sixth spin on headphones. Special; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pathosray; Brand: Pathosray; Review: Italy's Pathosray is in some ways different from other Italian progressive metal bands such as Zen, Khali, and Empty Tremor in that they are significantly heavier in their musical statements. Though they definitely follow a predominantly Dream Theater-defined route, their frequent use of double bass drum onslaught and slightly thrash-inflected guitar work bring to mind early Eldritch, one of Italy's greatest power-thrash combos ever. The self-titled debut consists of nine tracks, two of which clock in at less than two minutes. "Free of Doubt" is the album's keyboard-laden intro that segues into the stomping "Faded Crystals", a tune that is relentlessly heavy with corrosive riffing and aggressive vocals which suddenly transform into crystal clear melodies during the chunky chorus. Not for a moment is melody sacrificed for single-minded fury, but vocalist Marco Sandron does know when to reach for heavens and belt out scorching high screams as well as go for ultra-clean statements with creepy whispering or melodic mid-range delivery. On the comparatively more challenging "Lines to Follow", for instance, Sandron delivers the verses aggressively in an almost traditional metal sense. However, as the chorus arrives, he opts for a Khan-like multiple harmony-driven style that totally balances the whole piece out. Fabio D'Amore's incessant bass stomp lays the foundation for a thrashy rhythm workout in the finale. "Scent of Snow" is the album's catchiest number, and evokes another Sensory Records band, Pantommind. With its extended intro, cool bass work, thunderous drumming, and versatile vocals, it recalls later-day Vanden Plas. Sandron's range of vibrato is frightening, and the chorus is simply infectious. Broken down into a nifty acoustic passage, the song regains pace with the arrival of a very Dream Theater-inspired instrumental section. The slightly Egyptian-scaled guitar work and odd-sounding keyboard work at the end are truly impressive. Provided they continue to hone and develop their sound, Pathosray could become a great prog band in the future. Not everything is swathed in melodic song structures on this album, however. And it is this that sets them apart from their contemporaries. Following the one-minute piano ballad "In Salicis Umbra" (the only ballad on the album), the band foray into the most straightforward number "Strange Kind of Energy", which has the potential of gaining them fans of melodic metal and power metal as well. It is a fast-paced track with the occasional spoken vocals and sprinkles of keyboards thrown in. The last track is decidedly more eventful, as it contains yet another melodic chorus backed by wailing guitar work courtesy of Luca Luison. The album's centrepiece is "The Sad Game", just shy of the ten-minute mark. Guesting the godly Alessandro Seravalle from Garden Wall on back vocals, this is easily their darkest and most wicked offering. Thrash-imbued guitar work and unorthodox chord progressions in the intro signal drummer Ivan Moni Bidin's deep respect for Garden Wall, arguably the most bizarre and original progressive metal band from Europe. Seravalle's instantly recognisable demonic-sounding vocals contrast that of Sandron in every possible aspect. Each evil verse is followed by a clean-sung line in a whirlwind of slamming drum; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Return Of The Pride; Brand: White Lion; Review: For years, Mike Tramp said he had moved on and White Lion was something from the past. He said there'd never be a White Lion reunion no matter what. He also declared that Freak of Nature was the best band of his life, but they wouldn't reform either. And if they did, it would only happen with the same lineup. Now, here is a new album titled Return of the Pride released under the White Lion moniker. The only original member of the band is Mike Tramp himself. Judging by the title, the music is supposed to be a step back in time, but sadly, this is not the case here. The album has absolutely nothing in common with the real White Lion we all know. Rather, about half of the songs seem like they were leftovers from Tramp's solo material while the rest, while certainly trying to recapture the original White Lion magic, fall short off the mark, due to the absence of Vito Bratta's songwriting. The music presented here simply does not deliver the classic White Lion sound. It simply is not a natural progression. The production is awfully flat at times, rendering some of these pieces unlistenable. Even the tracks that were written to resurrect the old days seem to suffer from this, as Mike Tramp's production is raw and in your face. In that respect, the CD recalls his 1999 effort Remembering White Lion -- at least then, he said he wasn't trying to recapture the sound. Well, what about this album? It doesn't possess better production either. It's more like White Lion's pre-Fight to Survive demos, particularly in the guitar department. On a positive note, the album offers two great epic-length pieces which are both among Tramp's finest songs since Freak of Nature. It's great he went back to his darker and heavier approach, even for two cuts. The opening number "Sangre De Cristo" ("Blood of Christ") starts off with creepy keyboards and constantly transitions between smooth acoustic parts to grinding heavy passages. The fast riffing here is akin to Freak of Nature's "Turn the Other Way", while the guitar theme planted underneath Tramp's vocalization during the heavy verses recalls Iced Earth. Also, Troy Patrick Farrell's blistering drumming is awesome as are the background vocals that lift the chorus. Likewise, "Battle at Little Big Horn" sees Tramp venturing into his Freak of Nature mood. It begins with a stomping bass line that slightly recalls "Fight to Survive" off of Remembering White Lion and lyrically deals with Custler's Last Stand. Complete with some of Tramp's most heart-wrenching delivery and killer gang vocals, the song also boasts a nice guitar solo that is reminiscent of the late Savatage guitarist Criss Oliva (think "Hounds" or "Ghost in the Ruins"). Other than these, there are several mid-tempo rockers which have a lot more common with Tramp's solo material, particularly Capricorn. "Dream" starts off with a wonderful vocal melody, but save for the edgy guitar work in places, it would feel home on his solo CD's. Similarly, "I Will" and "Never Let; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Formation Of Damnation; Brand: Testament; Review: Being the first Testament album in nearly a decade, The Formation of Damnation was definitely among the most anticipated releases of 2008, and despite some minor flaws, it does not disappoint. Complete with the original lineup plus Paul Bostaph on drums, this album is certainly a solid piece of work, but saying it's one of their best would be an exaggeration. Sure, the mighty Alex Skolnick is back, and he lays down the mesmerizing guitar work fans have always expected from him. Skolnick is in great form -- from the shred-intensive fretwork of "Killing Season", which also stands out for his intricate arrangement, to the heavy-duty riffing of the title track, he maintains his melodic signature without diluting the overall flow of the record. The latter actually preserves the powerful death metal influences of the band's songs on The Gathering, as vocalist Chuck Billy delivers his killer low register vocals. And the lead guitar solo here is brilliant to say the least. Though this is not one of those horrible groove-oriented discs with the occasional thrash riffing, the majority of the tracks move in a safe midtempo pattern, best noticed on the slightly modern-sounding "Dangers of the Faithless", interspersed with some processed vocals and a The Ritual-like guitar solo running through the piece secretly. To balance it out, however, the band bring forth tracks like "Henchmen Ride" and "F.E.A.R.", the former noteworthy for its jackhammer riffing and big chorus, and the latter, written entirely by Alex Skolnick, for its modern vibe injected into its fierce, relentless onslaught of twin guitar attacks. Vocalist Chuck Billy employs more of his clean singing this time around, but he hasn't abandoned his snarling vocals completely. On the 9/11-inspired "The Evil Has Landed", for instance, he exudes his brutal singing and Paul Bostaph's drumming here is simply amazing. Without getting into the Bostaph-Lombardo comparisons, I feel Bostaph more than serves the purpose of the album, though some tunes could have benefited more from his imaginative fills and attacks. Mainstay Eric Peterson still produces powerful rhyhthm work throughout the album, but honestly, he has written a lot more engaging riffs before. On some tunes, whether he opted for thrash metal or just midtempo melodic lines with some aggressive parts mixed in remains unanswered. While The Gathering detained a wholeness from start to finish, full of dark and brutal thrash metal onslaughts, The Formation of Damnation branches off into more diversified territory, merging a plethora of Testament trademarks from way back. The album deals with a variety of topics lyrically. The last song "Leave Me Alone" is about divorce, and one of the few tracks that sees bassist Greg Christian straying from the norm and offering some of his powerful and varied playing. It's somewhat disappointing that he primarily sticks to root notes only on this disc, which is saying a lot considering how great a player he truly is. With the exception of a handful tunes, the bass is almost inaudible, though he does come to the fore on the album's first single "More Than Meets the Eye",; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Warrel Dane,Praise to the War Machine,Phantom Sound & Vision,Deluxe,Heavy Metal,Import-Gbr,Pop/Rock Music" />; Brand: Warrel Dane; Review: On Warrel Dane's inaugural solo album, the only thing that resembles Nevermore is his vocals. Other than that, from songwriting to production to the overall construction of the music, this is a completely different piece of work, which is great considering artists should release solo albums in order to step out of the confines of their respective bands, not to repeat their past glories. The first set of listens are likely to result in mixed feelings, not because the music presented here is a disappointment, but rather, because of the fact that one will discover Dane's immense love for non-metal influences, most notably old-school goth music. The album is comprised of song-based material, where Dane is joined by former Soilwork guitarist Peter Wichers and ex-Himsa axeman Matt Wicklund, both of whom have had a tremendous impact on the final form of the compositions. For instance, Matt Wicklund's arrangement of the Sisters of Mercy tune "Lucretia My Reflection" has lent it a distinctly metal flavour. However, Dane opts for a deep, gothic delivery, especially during the spoken parts, which is unlike anything he's done before. Being a solo album, most of the songs are personal statements inspired by Dane's life, like the tragic "Brother", which he calls the most personal song of his entire life; or "This Old Man", where he exudes some of his most powerful and heartfelt vocals ever. Likewise, "Messenger", with its metaphor-filled lyrical agenda, weaves delicate synth textures and a full bass bottom, climaxing with Jeff Loomis' guest appearance. The bleak acoustic guitars of "Let You Down" briefly recall Opeth, though the song is more of a synthesis of everything Nevermore fans love about Warrel Dane: a deep, husky voice blended with powerful outbursts of guitar crunch and mood-intensive acoustic passages. Once again, the lead guitar work here is emotionally engaging and very well integrated into the three-minute running time. Aside from that, the cool synth layerings of "Your Chosen Misery", in which the final part gets punishingly heavy; the great drumming of "August" courtesy of Dirk Verbeuren (though he's just a session player, strangely enough, I cannot imagine listening to any of these tracks with a different drummer); and the groove-oriented drive of the other cover tune "Patterns" (Paul Simon) all add to the diversity and unity of Praises to the War Machine. Those expecting any thrash metal onslaughts are advised to wait for the next Nevermore album, but still, Dane's snarling vocals, the slamming drumming and melodic signature guitars of "When We Pray" and the almost thrashy opening of "The Day the Rats Went to War", with its stab at corrupt politicians, certainly connect Dane to the band we all love and respect. James Murphy plays a sick, dirty guitar solo on the latter, not too different from his wicked playing on This Godless Endeavor, in order to match the subject matter. "Obey", penned by guitarist Peter Wichers, also boasts a worthwhile rhythm workout and a totally unexpected blues-inflected guitar solo, which is built around non-tonal guitar language. Actually Chris Broderick was supposed to play on this; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blue; Brand: Novembre; Review: The Blue successfully expands on the sound experiment of Materia, the previous Novembre album, but also brings in elements from their earlier works. On some songs, it is easy to notice the mix of powerful death metal elements and the more mellow yet progressive side of Materia. Contrary to their previous disc, The Blue exudes greater use of death metal-styled vocals and screams from Carmelo Orlando, but he hasn't abandoned his sombre clean tone completely. Actually, most of the tunes on The Blue boast his unmistakable clean singing a la Materia, such as "Cobalt of March" with its Ulverian intro and excellent guitar cascades; "Bluecracy" with its penchant for melodic guitar lines and groove-oriented rhythmic facade; or "Architeme" with its detailed Radiohead-like arrangement, something which has been carried over from Materia as well. That said, the same songs are also filled with Orlando's pain-ridden screams as well as growls and whispers. The aforementioned "Bluecracy", for instance, brings forth his entire vocal spectrum, as he starts with his somewhat upbeat clean voice, then mixes it up with his hate-infested screams and finishes with creepy whispers. However, the balance of the whole song is maintained due to the clever inclusion of melodic guitar work. Moreover, on "Sound Odyssey", the band's extreme sides are interwoven into a melodic framework. It begins with the saddest acoustic guitars and synths you can imagine before alternating vocal parts take the lead, with the clean singing perhaps being the album's high point. The demonic screams of "Cantus Christi" are sheer emotion not to mention the accompanying guitar theme. The very fact that Novembre infuses wonderful guitar themes into their songcraft is testimony to their formidable songwriting. They avoid overusing a melody or theme no matter how powerful it is. The same method has been applied to "Nascence", where Carmelo Orlando is joined by female vocalist Francesca Iacorossi (Oblivio), and while the main melody of the piece is godly, it is used in a very restrained mindset. The vocals are simply fantastic, exchanging stanzas and even lines before the song climaxes with a highly emotional guitar solo. Two tracks on the seem to be quite personal, one of them being "Triesteitaliana". A song penned about Italy's northern border town Trieste, it manages to merge plenty of contrasting moods in its four-minute running time. The drumming on this song is awesome, and Orlando's slightly gothic-toned delivery works very well when countered by his trademark screams. Also, the almost entirely instrumental piece "Zenith", perhaps the band's best moment, moves through many passages, and also features a wonderful flute arrangement with ethereal keys lingering over it. The final verse, at less than thirty seconds, is the same verse of "Come Pierrot" from the band's complex album Novembrine Waltz. Unless I'm mistaken, "Argentic" is the only tune on this song with all clean vocals, but, while good, does not come close to capturing the same level of intensity of the Materia songs. Though it would be unfair to compare The Blue with its predecessor, I feel Materia was a more thorough effort with staggering; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tides; Brand: Leverage; Review: Tides is a very solid debut for Finland's melodic metallers Leverage. Though melodic metal has been oversaturated recently, this band knows how to do it right retaining energy and power throughout the whole disc with great results. This six-piece group churns out highly melodic metal numbers, mixing them up with both 80's Journey-like arena rock and symphonic elements depending on the song. Where tracks like the album opener "Fifteen Years" and "Dramworld" exhibit primal energy and relentless melodic fury, at times evoking bands like Dream Evil and Firewind; the more mid-tempo driven "Sails" and "Follow Down That River" boast multiple hooks thanks to the solid guitar tandem of Tuomas Heikkinen and Torsti Spoof. The former particularly delves into 80's-styled shred guitars at one point whilst the latter stands out for the fantastic vocal performance of Pekka Heino, without whom this album would be nowhere near as good as it is. Heino possesses crystal clear midrange tone, which he employs through most of the tunes, but when the situation calls for it, he opts for powerful high screams best heard at the end of "Horizon". "Superstition" is like 80's Journey with its delicate keys interwoven with hook-filled guitar crunch and hugely gripping choruses. Though the band is unafraid to borrow mightily from all of rock's greats, their tunes are also graced with European power metal choruses. It's only on the comparatively more symphonic-based "Marching to War" (with a killer synth solo by Marko Niskala) and the darker-toned "Twilight Symphony" where they seem to slightly stray from the norm, but with the arrival of stadium-sized choruses they quickly return to their original sound. Also, right in the middle of the album is the acoustic guitar-based "Stranger", which morphs into a melodic rocker at the end. The production is crisp and very natural sounding. It fits the album and the style of the band perfectly. Recommended to anyone remotely interested in melodic metal which has its own character. (This is a review of the original pressing of the CD on Golden Core Records. A re-release indicates two bonus tracks were added. I have not heard that one.); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: XV; Brand: King's X; Review: XV is King's X's fifteenth release, not album per se. Up to now, they've put out eleven studio albums, one best-of, and two live discs. Therefore, this is their twelfth album. Interestingly enough, like in the old days of cassettes, the album is divided into Side A and B, both of which contain six tracks, plus two bonus songs attached to the end. Once again, all hallmarks of the King's X sound are perfectly delivered, from the multiple vocal harmonies to in-your-face guitar work to solid-as-a-rock rhythm workout. As is the case with every King's X album, in between these numbers there are also slower-paced cuts, such as the simplistic pop of "Blue" and the Ty Tabor-sung "Repeating Myself", with its beautiful acoustic guitar arrangement and smooth vocal lines. Thick with harmony at the end, the guitars ringing beneath the vocals are truly beautiful. Then there is the driving rhythm of the album opener "Pray", which immediately ventures into groove-inflicted territory, complete with fuzzy bass sounds, eerie percussion, and pyschedelic guitar voicings. The production is thick and heavy, and the harmonies are filled with hooks. Lyrically examining religion, and the way the guitars at the end emulate Doug Pinnick's vocals, the song sort of recalls their earlier body of work. In parallel, the vigorously syncopated rhythms of "Alright", chock full of grinding riffs and drum battery, give off the impression that the song was recorded in one take -- so powerful is its impact. Other standouts also include "Julie", sung by Jerry Gaskill. With bluesy guitar parts, a poppy clean voice, and pounding bass arrangements, his vocals are clear as a bell, and the brief yet intense instrumental break offered here is perhaps the highlight of the album. That said, my favourite tune has to be the politically charged "Move" with its gruelling bass intro and steady, almost machine-like drumming. The chorus is simply awesome and lets Pinnick pour out the rage that built within. There are also shorter pieces, which barely break the three-minute mark, like the rigid execution of "Rocket Ship", the instantly memorable "Stuck" (check Pinnick's chants at the end), and the hilarious "Go Tell Somebody", a tune that will get the crowds going on stage. Those anticipating Ty Tabor's softer side coming to the fore will be pleased with both the Beatles-like "I Don't Know", whose ending recalls early King's X; and the moving "I Just Want to Live", detailing lyrics of struggles of life. As with Ogre Tones, the CD was produced by Michael Wagener and sounds organic and fresh, perhaps more so than its predecessor. The fact that so many others were asked to partake in the choruses has certainly enriched the harmonies in these tunes. Also, this time around, the band went into the studio after having written all the songs, which has resulted in a more unified work overall. Of the two bonus tracks, "Love and Rockets (Hell's Screaming)" certainly commands your attention, particularly for its bass-centred groove construction. Knowing King's X has some of the most rabid fans, they should be all over; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleeping In Traffic: Part Two; Brand: Beardfish; Review: Considering the second part of Beardfish's album was supposed to document the "night part" of the concept, one might have thought the songs on this platter would be darker in tone, emphasizing moodier soundcapes compared to the off-the-wall material that permeated the first disc. It should be noted that this is not the case here -- at all. Rather, Sleeping in Traffic - Part Two expands on the first album, retaining its eclectism from start to finish, even building on it. Still steeped in the roots of 70's progressive rock movement, Beardfish continue to produce all-encompassing material, often borrowing from the Zappa and Gentle Giant library and bordering on avant-garde at times. A song like "South of the Border", for instance, sees the band highlighting their sense of humour, as it is informed by a plethora of soundscapes, from the spoken vocal parts to its classic rock tendencies to the downright frightening instrumental wizardy (where blazing organs clash with oddly tuned guitar work) to its ever-funky rhythmic pattern. On the instrumental piece "Cashflow", they delve into full-on avant-garde territory, which might even be a challenge for the avid Zappa fan. At six minutes, it sees a multitude of sound experiments infused into quirky instrumental passages -- almost too much to take on first listen. Actually, the first and last songs only function as an intro and outro to the other six songs, as they both clock in at less than two minutes: the first tune is just a segment of warm melodies whilst the last one is a solemn piano bit fading into white noise. Then there are the more song-based yet equally bizarre numbers. "Into the Night" is like an excerpt of the tunes on part one, rightly so. The first part is filled with playful instrumental craze, while the second part is jazzier and darker conjuring up images of the night, ever so briefly. There is a unison solo happening towards the end, where agile melodies are interwoven and climax in typical Fripptonics fashion. The laidback, bass-centric "The Downward Spiral / Chimay" sees Rikard Sjoblom extracting ever-changing synth tones from his instrument, but there is also a soothing, dreamlike acoustic section complemented by beautiful percussion work. The clarity captured here is awe-inspiring. The husky bass intro of "The Hunter", arguably the band's most bizarre work, opens the track as rousing synths crash into the piece all too unexpectedly. Organs dominate, vocals of Sjoblom - intentionally so - continue to fluctuate between normal singing and the delirious, lunatic tones. The lyrics are equally mind-boggling: "It gives me satisfaction to see you scared and running | And when you bleed you bleed only for me | So peel back the skin of your skull | Cause I wanna see what's inside." The band is being terribly sarcastic it seems, and the ending of the song where lofty guitars and keyboars unite in order to form a cinematic experience is stupifying. Then of course there is the title track, merging the two discs beautifully, with common threads of melodies and themes. At over; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Building An Empire; Brand: Demians; Review: Demians (inspired by a book by Herman Hesse) is the solo project of French musician Nicolas Chapel. He plays all instruments on the album, but he has also assembled a live lineup for touring purposes. The debut consists of eight tunes which clock in at almost an hour of running time. Starting with the ambitious "The Perfect Symmetry", one will immediately notice the huge sound Chapel has constructed. Mainly composed of crytalline acoustic guitars and rich shades of synthesizers, the song boasts a curious mix of spoken parts underscoring Chapel's mellow, laidback singing and the occasional rhythm guitar crunch. The song mostly moves in a midtempo pace, but it is littered with dense sound experimentation, where bleeps and static protrude amidst weird radio excerpts and a steady, monotonous drum workout. Towards the end, the tune takes on a cinematic bent thanks to the rising guitar crescendo and varied synth harmonies. The acoustic guitars of "Shine" and "Naive" somewhat recall Blackfield, each starting out really mellow and building to an intense finale. The former gets really going halfway through with cascading keyboard melodies and its staccato rhythm guitars while the latter stands out for its dynamic song structure. The uplifting vocals also bring to mind Peter Gabriel (think "Solsbury Hill"). Also there is the beautifully produced "Sapphire", with its subtle bass tones and symphonic textures. The way the heavy synth tones keep overlapping each other at the end is sublime. Chapel has achieved the juxtaposition of dark and light perfectly on Building An Empire, as the second half of the album is more psychedelic and darker toned. Cuts like "Unspoken" contain Porcupine Tree-like atmospherics and guitar elements stretching into white noise. Tracks six and seven, "Temple" and "Empire", are linked both thematically and musically. The electronic sound sequencing that finishes "Temple" reappers in the intro of "Empire", linking the tunes successfully. The lyrics, too, seem to address a similar theme, as Chapel has channeled into them feelings of fear of loss. In a way, "Empire" expands on the soundcape formed by "Temple", with neat doubled vocals and jazzy overtones a la Steven Wilson's other band No-Man. The sixteen-minute "Sand" embodies the whole Demians sound, and is perhaps the album's high point. The tribal drumming and percussion works very well over the moody sounds created. Even Chapel's vocals take on a more serious, aggressive delivery (the scream towards the end almost borders on growling). Also, the bass guitar playing on this one is quite atypical compared to the other tunes, as the bass takes centre stage, particularly during the addictive keyboard melody -- this one commands all prog lovers' attention. This album is arguably among the most mellow discs in the Inside Out catalog, perhaps right up there with Chroma Key, Kino, and RPWL, though it's totally different musically. One would be wiser to group them with acts like Blackfield, No-Man, Nosound, and even later-day Alcest, another one-man band from France.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Watershed; Brand: Opeth; Review: Watershed is the ninth Opeth album; and in some ways it signifies a new start for them. This is not totally surprising, given the band has a new guitarist and a new drummer now. Also, they they seem to be in a transition phase musically because Watershed, while encompassing lots of their past hallmarks, also delves into new musical territory. The differences are mainly demonstrated in their impenetrable song structures, as Mikael Akerfeldt has constructed the album in a more evocative way this time time around. Unlike any other Opeth album, Watershed begins with the short acoustic track "Coil", where strummed acoustic guitars and beautifully arranged string work form the leeway for Akerfeldt and female guest singer Nathalie Lorichs to deliver the verses in an addictively melodic tone. Lorichs' vocals are amazing, and while the song clocks in at only three minutes, that's its charm. Overall, Watershed is no where near as heavy as the previous Opeth discs, as it boasts a more experimental aesthetic throughout. However, the second track "Heir Apparent" is arguably the heaviest, most brutal Opeth song to date. Not only is it crushingly heavy, it is also the first Opeth tune with no clean vocals whatsoever. Sure, they have other tracks like "Blackwater Park", "Wreath", "The Amen Corner", and "April Ethereal" among others, but all of them contain some clean backing vocals, whispers, humming, et cetera whilst "Heir Apparent" is delivered with Akerfeldt's unmistakable growls from start to finish. Occupied by an assault of guitar fury in its chaotic intro, the piece contains laser-precise drumming and Akerfeldt's suffocating vocals that are contrasted by deft string work and clean, psychedelic-like guitar harmonies soaring over Axenrot's percussion. The ending to the song is equally baffling: smooth layers of guitar melodies overlapping each other. New drummer Martin Axenrot will pleasantly surprise many an Opeth fan with his performance here. Not only does he play with admirable restraint on most of the album, but he also proves how capable a drummer is on "The Lotus Eater", which is another sound experiment for the band. The drumming on this dissonant tune is stupifyingly good, perhaps among Opeth's finest. Certainly the most technical song on the disc, it features blast beats over which Akerfeldt sings with clean vocals and then growls atop rapid-fire guitar riffery. Very interesting. The rhythm exercise of the song brims with energy, particularly during the instrumental break where guitars, drums and bass clash with each other without taking away from the composition. Akerfeldt's love for the 70's is exemplified by the gorgeous ballad "Burden", whose main melody is very similar to the stuff Dan Swano does on Unicorn's Emotional Wasteland album. A bit like the material on Damnation, this one sees Opeth branching off into pure balladry mode, with moving guitar solos and vocals. The ending is especially confusing, as Akerfeldt's guitar is manually detuned in the finale. They obviously did it to escape the mellow ballad mood of the tune, and it definitely sets it apart. Despite that weird ending, Opeth proves they can write the best songs in; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Of Frost And War; Brand: Hail of Bullets; Review: Members from some of the Netherlands' most important death metal bands, namely Pestilence, Gorefest, Thanatos among others, have joined forces to form Hail of Bullets, a staggering old-school death metal band that offers uncompromising molten metal mayhem on their ambitious debut Of Frost and War. Based around vocalist Martin van Drunen's ideas, the album is a conceptual piece of work revolving around WW2, particularly the eastern front. All tracks address the theme of war, painting a bleak picture of destruction a la Bolt Thrower during their heyday. This is further highlighted by the amazing packaging with authentic pictures and the fitting artwork. The lyrics of tracks like "The Lake Ladoga Massacre" and "The Crucial Offensive (19-11-1942, 7.30 AM)" are actually worth investigating, as van Drunen is certainly well versed in history. This being a nod to the masters of old-school death metal, most of the songs are intentionally devoid of melodic patterns and see the band proceeding through mid-tempo to faster musical terrains. Melody is only offered at key points, in order to provide contrast to the bleak, relentlessly heavy death metal aesthetic. This actually works perfectly, as the band seems to understand the overemphasis of melodic segments would not serve the purpose of such an album, but when applied scarcely, the songs transcend their limits and turn into modern death metal anthems. Ed Warby's drumming, though a bit lower in the mix than his work on the demo, is staggering and powerful; while the guitar duo of Thanatos, Paul Baayens and Stephan Gebedi, lay down some amazing harmonies on pieces like "Nachthexen" and the phenomenal album closer "Berlin". Combined with van Drunen's dry, tortured growl and Theo van Eekelen's rumbling bass, the tracks immediately stand out due to their epic arrangement, thick guitar layering and overall feel. The balance of the fast and mid-tempo tracks is achieved seamlessly, as the sludgy, almost doom-metal like "The Lake Ladoga Massacre" and "General Winter" morph into crushing death metal monsters with insane drum fills and suffocating twin guitar riffery. Pay attention to the ending of "General Winter" where wah-infested guitars form a thick wall of dissonance that messes with the head. Actually almost all of the songs on the album end on a grandiose note, giving the impression that there isn't a single overplayed note on them. As with their demo, the album was mixed and mastered by Dan Swano and therefore it sounds savage, massive and brutal. Swano also does some death growls on "Ordered Eastward", one of the best tracks on the album. Rife with machine-gun riffery, militaristic drum beats and van Drunen's abrasive vocals, it takes on a completely new vibe as Dan Swano enters the piece with some of his most brutal and punishing death growls ever. Swano sings atop an epic guitar theme thick with harmony through most of the tune, but it concludes with van Drunen in the finale. Of Frost and War is the best death metal debut of 2008, and perhaps even the best death metal album of the year. Fans of Autopsy, Death, Bolt Thrower,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Night Eternal; Brand: Moonspell; Review: Night Eternal firmly follows Moonspell's previous release Memorial, but also involves the dark atmospherics from the band's re-recorded CD Under Satanae. Those who enjoyed Memorial will definitely find Night Eternal of interest because it further expands on that style, with plenty of heavy vocal parts, dark keyboard textures, symphonic elements, and deeply melodic guitar lines. The black metal aesthetic of their earlier material has partly been applied to some of these tunes, such as the album opener "At Tragic Heights", easily the most standout track on this disc. Starting with the creepy intro where dark, lingering keys engulf Fernando Ribeiro's trademark whispers and spoken lyrics, Moonspell venture into a fiercely heavy scorcher that also boasts a great interplay between guitars, keys, and bass (courtesy of Niclas Etelavuori from Amorphis) and concludes with Ribeiro's evil death growls. Speaking of which, there is plenty of growling and screeching on the album, but we also get to hear him switching to his calm gothic voice on some tunes. His hoarse, abrasive delivery on songs like "Night Eternal", complete with insanely fast drumming and tremelo picking; "Moon Is Mercury", highlighted by a gripping melodic guitar theme; and "Spring of Rage", a blend of jackhammer riffery and gothic keyboard exercise, is perfectly contrasted by his seamless switch to clean singing on the otherwise punishing "Shadow Sun", where he continues to repeat the lyrics "Life is meaningless!" until he is sure the listener has absorbed them. Of all tracks, only two of them are sung with clean vocals: the clean-toned "First Light", noteworthy for its wonderful guitar layering and Ribeiro's assured vocal melody; and "Scorpion Flower", in which Ribeiro duets with Anneke van Giersbergen formerly of The Gathering. First, Ribeiro enters the piece singing over a simple yet effective guitar-keyboard synthesis and a steady, 4/4 drum beat. Then, van Giersbergen offers her instantly recognisable vibrato, doubling his vocal lines and eventually singing solo. In a way, this tune evokes her brilliant duet with Ulver's Garm on the Souvenirs album, but this one is less minimalistic and more guitar-friendly. On this album, Ricardo Amorim is given bigger space for guitar solos, one of which totally complements this piece. The result is a blend of Moonspell's recent material injected with some of the more blackish atmospherics pre-Sin/Pecado, and while I've never been a big fan of the band's post-The Butterfly Effect material, I feel this one may be their best from that period yet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crack the Skye; Brand: Mastodon; Review: Without getting into the debate as to whether Crack the Skye is Mastodon's best album to date, one would be wise to just point out its differences, both strengths and shortcomings, and leave it to the fans to do the ranking. On first listen, Crack the Skye will immediately stand out for its easily noticeable absence of screamed vocals. Troy Sanders uses his clean voice on almost all the tunes, with very few exceptions. Without doubt, it will take some time to get used to his style, but repeat listens only serve to solidify one's opinion that the songs on this disc have been composed in such a style to sound much better with this approach. Pain-ridden vocals pop up only to provide contrast to the more melodious direction taken in spots. The chorus on "Ghost of Karelia", for instance, proves all the more powerful as the vocals shift from the mostly clean style to somewhat aggressive outbursts. The guitar tandem of Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher lend the songs a solid, unbreakable facade, which elevates them to a whole new level. From the apocalyptic opening chords of "Oblivion", chock full of despondent riffs and rock-based guitar solos; to the calculated riffery of "Divinations", they implant dynamics to the compositions through and through. Rather than entirely focusing on heavy, punishing jackhammer riffery, this time around they also utilise progressive metal-like jam sessions and blues-inflected passages. As a result, the constant shifting of dynamics on "Quintessence" renders the tune more creative and interesting. The ten-minute epic "The Czar" is built upon flawless songwriting and mood construction. Broken down into four parts, it launches into an unadulterated groove from the mellow "Usurper" to "Escape", though the vocal melody on this one is not among Mastodon's best. With "Martyr," things retreat back to clean acoustic lines before picking up the trademark Mastodon riffs and seguing into a wonderful blues-inflected solo. Scott Kelly from the amazing Neurosis continues the tradition to guest on Mastodon discs (he also sang on Leviathan and Blood Mountain) and appears on the title track, among the album's most progressive pieces as it strangely recalls 90's King Crimson in the way the guitars have been arranged. The guitar solo on this track is among the best ever! As stated above, how Crack the Skye will rank in Mastodon's catalog remains to be seen. However, from a production standpoint, it is by far the band's best-sounding album. It was produced by the great Brendan O'Brien whose resume includes all kinds of different artists, from Pearl Jam to Stone Temple Pilots to Bruce Springsteen to AC/DC to Aerosmith to name but a few. O'Brien has managed to create a dense album with many layers, thick guitar tapestries, and heavy, solid drum and bass battery. He was also unafraid to render sound effects on Sanders' voice with great results. The album title is a homage to drummer Brann Dailor's sister Skye Dailor who committed suicide at the age of 14, so this is obviously among the more personal musical statements of the band. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Molecular Heinosity; Brand: Derek Sherinian; Review: Molecular Heinosity is Derek Sherinian's sixth solo album. Much like its predecessor, Blood of the Snake, it sees the skilled keyboardist opting for a predominantly guitar-based album, enlisting the services of guitar heroes that include the ever-present Zakk Wylde, the terribly underrated Brett Garsed, and Rusty Cooley among others. The first three tracks sort of recall the trilogy on Sherinian's first album Planet X. Written and arranged by the great Virgil Donati, they inevitably lend themselves to fusion territory, often evoking the material presented on Planet X's last album Quantum. "Antarctica" is an expansive number, with a strong rhythmic backbone and tasty synth elements. "Ascension" is comparatively more psychedelic, and a welcome change to Sherinian's often guitar-driven new sound. With "Primal Eleven", the drumming becomes more prominent as does Tony Franklin's beautiful fretless bass playing. Sherinian elicits myriad synth tones out of his instrument, while the guitar work is subtly integrated into the composition. New recruit Rusty Cooley, the amazing shred god, appears on "Frozen By Fire", which he helped co-write. Sadly though, the tune turns out to be yet another neoclassic shred fest, bringing little novelty to the table. It's a shame the duo couldn't come up with more interesting ideas; actually the material on Cooley's self-titled solo album is much better if we are talking about shred for shred's sake. Though this album has been marketed as a more 'metal' release than Sherinian's previous outings, the only tunes that really present unbridled aggression would be "Wings of Insanity", for its rhythmically stupefying intro, and the amazing title track, obviously influenced by the great Meshuggah. After repeat listens, it is only this track that qualifies as something new from Derek Sherinian. It boasts challenging guitar work, dense synth experimentation, and brutal onslaughts of drum and bass dominance. It would have been great if he had further experimented with this idea. Sadly without Simon Phillips co-writing and arranging with Sherinian, Molecular Heinosity proves to be merely a mishmash of songs, partly Quantum-era fusiony tunes with the compulsory neoclassic shred (performed much better on the previous tunes by Yngwie Malmsteen) and the occasional ethnic influences. Zakk Wylde sings on the only vocal track "So Far Gone", laced with elements from Sherinian's Armenian roots. It's an average song in which Wylde attempts to revive the classic Sabbath sound, but honestly the mix of cello, metal, fusion, and 'Ozzy' on vocals does not quite work, rendering it somewhat overwrought. Maybe it's about time Derek Sherinian sat down and actually tried to compose songs on his own, without relying on big names who will help sell albums easily. There is a reason why Sherinian has never quite matched the brilliance of his first two albums, particularly Inertia. Bringing in countless shred heroes and relying on their technical proficiency obviously doesn't cut it anymore. It seemed to work with Black Utopia and Mythology, and even Blood of the Snake to an extent, but in time these records have certainly paled in comparison to the more compositional works on the first two discs. When I buy a Derek; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Soldier; Brand: Queensrche; Review: I have to be honest: Tribe was the last Queensryche album I bought and even then I had long given up on them. Releasing awfully trite and drab albums after Promised Land, the band hit an all-time low for me when they tried to revive the so-called Ryche spirit with Operation: Mindcrime II, obviously a final attempt to cash in on past glories... Anyway, I have given this disc quite a few spins and a fair chance, nothwithstanding my recent disappointment. American Soldier is a concept album attempting to examine war through the eyes of soldiers, and therefore contains myriad spoken passages and voiceovers, perhaps a bit redundantly. A while ago, Geoff Tate gave an interview in which he explained what each song deals with lyrically, so seek it out if you're interested. From a musical standpoint, despite attempting to portray the casualties of war, much of the album stays in mellow territory, straying only in spots with the speeding up of drums and rhythm guitars -- albeit in the most typical ways. Instrumentally, it bears absolutely no similarity to the band up until the mid-90's. The so-called guitar solos on tracks like "Sliver" and "Unafraid" would perhaps help these cuts stand strong, but since they are drenched in endless spoken parts and voiceovers, they fail to impact the listener as much as they should. The bass and riffing on the latter actually shows a glimpse of hope before they get buried in the mix and the saccharine chorus. It is no secret that Geoff Tate is no longer the wailer he used to be 15 years ago, but the reason why this album is so boring and flat is not because of Tate's singing. The man actually now has a very rich low tenor voice which he uses to great effect, singing passionately to aptly deliver the messages. Actually the only thing that connects this band to the Queensryche we know is Tate's voice. He is at his most expressive on "At 30,000 Ft", the dark ballad, which slowly builds up to an interesting instrumental section with wailing guitars and slamming drum workout towards the finale. Unfortunately, Tate's powerful voice is not enough to save the album, as the album contains way too many ballads in the form of "Remember Me" and the absurdly cheesy "Home Again" in which Tate duets with his 10-year-old daughter. Give me a break. The song sounds so tired and the instrumentation so lifeless, not to mention the unbearably melodramatic singing, I still cannot believe they recorded this track. What were they thinking? Of course, the band revisits its past couple of letdowns, incorporating modern beats, watery synth elements into the midtempo cut "A Dead Man's Words", and multi-tracked vocalizations placed atop a lifeless 4/4 beat on "Hundred Mile Stare" (with perhaps the worst ending on the whole disc). And I'm not even describing "The Killer", easily the poppiest chorus Tate has come up with in a decade. The chorus that is draped over the militaristic drumming is abysmal. On a positive note, the production is; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lunatic Soul; Brand: Lunatic Soul; Review: Lunatic Soul is a new outlet for vocalist/bassist Mariusz Duda to express himself and experiment with different sounds and songwriting systems. It differs vastly from Riverside, and rightly so. I have always believed that artists' solo projects should operate outside of the patterns of their respective bands, and in that aspect Lunatic Soul does not disappoint me. Built around largely acoustic and psychedelic sounds, the album maintains a mellow flow, leading to plenty of instrumental breaks and making use of a wide array of instrumentation. The absence of electric guitars has given way to myriad synth textures, performed brilliantly by both Riverside keyboardist Michal Lapaj and the insanely versatile Maciej Szelenbaum, who is also credited as a songwriter on some of the tunes. Besides keyboards, he contributes piano, harmonica, and flute as well to broaden the width of the compositions, best noted on "The New Beginning," which stands out for his subdued flute arrangement alongside Duda's soft, fragile whisper-like singing. Those familiar with Indukti know how diverse the drumming on their songs is. Wawrzyniec Dramowicz provides the ethnic percussion and tribal drum beats to great effect, deepening the essence of "Summerland" where Duda's vocal lines constantly shift from Porcupine Tree-like processed parts to clean, dark vocalizations. There is more -- the dramatic finale of the beautifully performed "Out on a Limb," where a female voice softy cries beneath the ubiquitous acoustic guitars transpires atmosphere matched only by those like Ulver. For lack of a more apt comparison, parts of the album recall Opeth's Damnation, utilising a blend of Hammond organs, eerie percussion, and throbbing bass lines. This all culminates in a thick soundscape punctuated with dark themes and lyrics which revolve around the theme of death and afterlife. None of the tunes actually 'rock' in the sense of Riverside, but all of them are painstakingly composed, hardly containing Duda's restrained vocal outbursts on the title track. Though, on the whole, the album retains its dreamy feel and pace, best highlighted on the multi-textured "Adrift," complete with a pretty e-bow motif courtesy of Quidam guitarist Maciej Meller. The way the tune grows from minimal acoustic passages to a huge yet strangely soothing and beautiful soundworld proves that Duda is a masterful songwriter. It would be a shame if this remained a one-off project.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Above; Brand: Samael; Review: Samael's previous two albums, Solar Soul and Reign of Light, are marked with heavily industrial elements, and the songs are highly atmospheric and predominantly based on the foundation of drums and synths. Those expecting a follow-up to these albums had better be prepared, as new album proves to be a shift in focus. Above severs the band's ties with these discs completely, as it is centred around guitar-based compositions from start to finish. Keyboards are minimally applied, and thus only serve as a parameter to give extra dimension to the songs. Actually, with the exception of "Black Hole," building from a majestic hook, the synths are almost inaudible as is the bass. What we are presented with here is the heavy use of Xy's drumming, which is loud and crushing, and the intense riff work of Vorph, who continuously churns out tremelo-picked riffs while providing his feral, venomous Black Metal shrieks on all of the tracks. Above is a total return-to-roots record, disregarding the band's recent synth-driven industrial noisecapes, and drawing heavily on their past whilst also borrowing some elements from Scandinavia. This was originally intended to be a side project, as Xy obviously wanted to busy himself with more aggressive, fast, and punishing material after having put out the heavily atmospheric and synthesized Era One, but once the band's songwriting duo were convinced with the quality of the compositions, they decided to run with the idea. This is the reason why the songs differ vastly from Samael's recent material. They were composed with a totally different mindset. The songwriting is more direct than it has been for years; the compositions are considerably more simple, containing fewer experimental ideas and fewer metaphorical lyrics, but they are more powerful for a live setting. To complement this, Fredrik Nordstrom's mix, done in only four days, gives the album a somewhat live feel, which fits the atmosphere and flow greatly. Unless given many, many listens, the songs will blend into each other, giving the initial impression that the album sounds uninspired and bland. This is not the case at all. Careful listens become utterly rewarding, as one gets to uncover the band's aesthetic sensibilities and threads of melodies planted in each track. The riffing on songs like the album opener "Under One Flag" and "Earth Country" take on an almost ritualistic vibe, performed with utter conviction. Vorph's scream that opens "God's Snake" is frightening and face-rippingly brutal, while Xy provides ever-present blast beats and double bass drums without making it a one-man's show. There are points that can be criticised though. One may not be too fond of the fact that they seem to draw on Scandinavian-oriented death/black metal idioms in places, perhaps a la Amon Amarth and Dimmu Borgir, with all those distorted vocal effects and production aesthetics. That they have reduced the keyboards and recorded ten fast, brutal tracks, at times boasting sub-standard production values, begs the question why Samael want to go back to pure nordic Black Metal when they haven't dabbled with the genre in more than a decade. The booklet; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: For Lies I Sire; Brand: My Dying Bride; Review: So how does the new album, For Lies I Sire, compare to the previous My Dying Bride efforts? Is it more of the same or does it incorporate anything new into their songcraft? On the whole, the album tries to blend their earlier songwriting characteristics with the material that dominated their previous releases, most notably in the vocal department. To claim that it breaks new ground would be an overstatement, but there are certain areas where they have branched off a bit, employing violin and more multi-tracked vocal parts and death vocals this time around. That said, neither the violin nor the deathy growls are used excessively. Rather, Katie Stone's morose violin sections are subtly integrated into the compositins, while Aaron Stainthorpe goes for the growls on just a few of the tracks without overdoing it. Some of the highlights include the excellent "My Body, A Funeral," where the addictive vocal melody is slowly repeated by the guitar and violin respectively, whilst the drumming beneath the mix is heavy and crushing. Likewise, the militaristic drums are also fiercely prominent on "Fall with Me," which gives a nod to the band's past. The vocals, however, carry on in the style of the previous album, A Line of Deathless Kings, although the singing sounds more inspired and emotional on this one. Among the album's finest moments are the piano-based dirge, "Echoes from a Hollow Soul," and the title track. The guitar themes that preoccupy these tunes sound like they were readapted from the material on The Dreadful Hours, arguably My Dying Bride's last essential album, in that they are gripping and unbelievably sad sounding. It is moreso a similarity in the way the guitars are arranged rather than a musical similarity. There are some extreme vocals to provide contrast on "Bring Me Victory," with an epic intro and tribal drumming, but honestly, Stainthorpe does seem to strain while doing the growls. It doesn't sound as powerful as his work on earlier albums. Similarly, when he opts for some growls on the comparatively whacky "ShadowHaunt," his singing recalls Black Metal type of singing, which does not quite suit the song. Add to this the somewhat experimental direction the band has taken, starting in a very stripped down way with violins and strummed acoustic guitars and morphing into a guitar-driven onslaught of riffs with eerie synth patches and harsh vocals. The band further experiments in "A Chapter in Loathing," a track that contains plenty of blast beats, tense silences, and a storming mix of synths, violins, and gritty vocal stylings. The final track, at over eleven minutes, sees them expanding on this aesthetic, with strange results. Fast, rolling drums dominate the track in the beginning before Stainthorpe's spoken part emerges as eerie, desolate doom riffs are also introduced slowly into the mix. Then there is again some silence, and then some more riffing. It ends on a creepy note, as the song abruptly ends at the nine-minute mark -- the last two minutes of it is complete silence, thus making it one of their longest songs; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Devil You Know; Brand: Heaven & Hell; Review: Regardless of what anyone says, The Devil You Know is the fourth Black Sabbath album featuring Ronnie James Dio on vocals despite the change in the band's name. The only reason they are going by the moniker Heaven and Hell is because they do not want to be bothered by Ozzy-obsessed fans when playing live. Just like its predecessor, Dehumanizer, the album was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales in only three months, which has given the band the chance to capture a rather live feel which is both intense and powerful. The band did take a longer time to write the album though, partly in England and partly in the USA. The Devil You Know expands on the classic Sabbath sound, chock full of thunderous riff work, stomping drum intensity, growling bass lines, and godly vocals. This album once again solidifies the fact that Dio is and always will be the voice of Heavy Metal. He is in fine form here, slightly straying from his style on his recent solo material, and revisiting his glorious past where he exerts a doomy vibe on some of the tunes that fits the compositions like a glove. It all begins with the sonic punch that is "Atom & Evil" (Adam & Eve) whose rolling drum intro suggests the production on this disc is huge and powerful. Everything sounds crisp; the range of dynamics is great and the instrumentation very vivid. As Iommi lays down his unique riffs, a dark, menacing atmosphere is achieved and perfected with the arrival of Dio singing lyrics of abstract symbolism. Note the use of discreet synths in the background, proceeding through a terrain of rhythmic power. Also pay attention to the mini-riff that is planted beneath Dio's vocals on the chorus. That riff doesn't let go till the end -- it is absolutely fantastic. Being a fan of Sabbath's darkest and heaviest material, tracks like "Follow the Tears," (what a great, great song!) "Bible Black," and "Breaking into Heaven" are the album's most shining moments. The heavy, almost sludge-infested opening riff of "Breaking into Heaven," once again complete with metaphorical lyrics about fallen angels trying to break into paradise, is a modern take on doom metal while the intro of "Follow the Tears" is so heavy that it would crush just about anything that gets into its path. Iommi will always be the god of riffs, as his writing has been unparalleled for over thirty years. He unleashes riffs, rhythms, and solos unlike any other guitarist in the world. His acoustic guitar playing on "Bible Black" is stunningly dark, as is his volatile, chugging lead solo that follows it. The way the song builds from a pain-ridden dirge to a monstrous finale induces goose bumps every time. Add to this Dio's vocals that recall his stuff from his most underrated album Strange Highways and Iommi's schizophrenic solo and you have a masterpiece of composition. Geezer Butler mostly stands out on the bass-centric "Double the Pain," again with vocals reminiscent of Strange Highways, where he lays down a sick, stomping; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Manifestation of Fear; Brand: Elegy; Review: Elegy's Manifestation of Fear is their fifth studio album, and the second one with the great Ian Parry at the helm. On this amazing concept album about a child born into a world of poverty and despair, the band display their amazing songwriting abilities within a storytelling context. Parry shines like never before with his unique, theatrical delivery, almost becoming the characters he portrays on the album. His slightly gritty, rough tone suits the feel of each track greatly, but his clean, hook-laden choruses are also in great abundance here: check the chorus of "Master of Deception" where he soars above a beautiful synth line and fluid guitar passages; or the wonderfully arranged "Angel without Wings", a track that comes to the fore due to its clever breakdowns, swift keyboard parts, and articulate guitar work. Guitarist Henk van der Laars' work is sublime through and through, as he puts equal amount of emphasis on crunch and corrosive riffwork without sacrificing Elegy's trademark melodic focus. This could quite possibly be his pinnacle along with State of Mind. His playing flows like never before -- be it his staccato riffery or amazing run-out leads on "Unorthodox Methods" or his relatively more technical yet equally melodic soloing on "Frenzy", he proves he is the reason why Elegy managed to rise to the top among a million other bands in the genre bordering on symphonic and progressive metal at times. Metal Mind's brilliant remastering of this golden disc has given the already powerful songs a brighter feel with lots of crunch and sonic expanse. The booklet in the digipack is also awesome: it contains a storyline of Ian Parry's concept, with each track giving detailed explanation on what happens at which point. Also included are three bonus tracks, one of them being the absolutely essential Japanese version of "Solitary Day". It's an extended version with a lot more character than the regular album version. Also available on the disc are demo versions of "Master of Deception" and "Metamorphosis". It is great how much these tracks evolved and became the band's definitive melodic metal staples. To this day, Manifestation of Fear remains an unrivaled melodic metal concept album of the 90's. It is arguably Elegy's most varied work in their catalog with its hard-rocking metal anthems, midtempo cuts, heart-piercing ballads, instrumental material, et cetara -- it was about time some label remastered it and put it out in its deserved packaging, so kudos to Metal Mind Productions for that.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Night Is the New Day; Brand: Katatonia; Review: The first thing that stands out on the first couple of listens is Jonas Renkse's amazing vocals. This partly stems from the fact that he has written nine of the eleven songs by himself, thus rendering it almost a solo album in a sense. This may lead one to think that the songs on this disc are somewhat samey offering little variation in their context. However, that is certainly not the case. The Katatonia sound is still intact here -- this album has such an emotional attachment to it, and its most rewarding moments have been hidden for the attentive listener. It is only with repeat listens that the rest of the album reveals itself, hence why it seems less accessible than its predecessor, the incredibly amazing The Great Cold Distance. Where the previous album was a display of dynamics focusing on complex rhythmic patterns and nimble drumming, Night is the New Day is a thorough study in pure atmosphere. Tracks may seem rather one-dimensional in the beginning, but that is more likely the result of being engulfed by Renkse's otherworldly singing. This album is his pinnacle from a vocal standpoint, his deep, breathy, sparse vocals take on almost hypnotizing quality on each track, drawing you into the compositions like never before. He has never channeled so much colour and palpable emotion into his songs as he has on this album. The songs have more resolution and character, and the compositions are more amorphous. The band no longer opts for the crushing quiet/loud dynamics heard on the previous disc. There is no effort to create huge, catchy choruses either, as each track on this disc is informed by pure, hollow emotion. Don't expect any choruses to leap out at you. It's not that there aren't any catchy vocal parts. On the contrary, they are in great abundance here. They have just been built into the tracks without stealing away from the rest of the composition. On "Inheritance", for instance, Renkse delivers the ultimately gripping chorus only towards the end of the composition. He sings: "Let them inherit this fire now | Lest they will forget that we were ever here." This just feels so right in the context of the song as it follows the tense trip-hop beats and precedes Nystrom's beautiful guitar theme -- and yet it stays with you for days on end. The same thing applies to "New Night" or "The Longest Year", which would be a great representation of the current Katatonia sound. With its ever shifting dynamics (easily the best Katatonia production!), nuanced drumming, sparse yet supremely melodic vocal lines, this is one of their most patient and complete songs in their career. The passage where the analog synth note is held and streteched just after the first chorus is simply spellbinding. There is a wealth of nuance and subtlety to discover here, as the inner-song structures are actually smoother than ever. This is not to say Night is the New Day consists of tracks alike. "Liberation" marries electronic elements with thick yet organic sounding guitars while; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Never Ending Way of Orwarrior; Brand: Orphaned Land; Review: The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR is the much-anticipated successor to Orphaned Land's highly acclaimed 2004 release Mabool. Much like its predecessor, this is also a concept album about the battle between light and darkness, but truth be told, I haven't fully explored the lyrics and story of the disc, as I've always been more interested in the band's music rather than conceptual ideas. Musically, the album sees Orphaned Land growing into a tighter musical force, capitalising on their foundation of heavy meets light in the form of myriad traits. Be it Kobi Farhi's bestial death growls or his melodic clean singing, the wonderful female vocals of Shlomit Levi, or the marriage of traditional instruments with the metallic thunder of bass, guitar, and drums, the songs are distinctly marked by the Orphaned Land sound we all know. Of course there are the shorter, slower-paced numbers like the acoustic-based "Bereft in the Abyss" and "Olat Ha'tamid", combining Hebrew singing with a catchy, Middle Eastern main melody; however, they have been carefully integrated into the flow of the album in order to provide sharper contrasts to the more progressively tinged pieces like "Treading Through Darkness" and "The Pilgrimage to Or Shalem", which are basically the two parts of a single composition. The former features soft, lullaby-like clean vocals atop a neat acoustic melody, a discreet symphonic element, and a sweet string section before gaining momentum and building towards a heavier finale with plenty of growling and harmony vocals. On the other hand, the second piece places heavier focus on nimble instrumentation, without ignoring the achingly beautiful female vocals. From its syncopated drum patterns to the spoken parts to the dense, chaotic rhythm sections, the song proves Orphaned Land have certainly refined their songwriting abilitities. The guitar work on the album is possibly Orphaned Land's best, not only from a technical standpoint but also melodically. Being the result of many years' of work, The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR boasts some of their most melodically driven songs. The guitar theme that appears in the second half of "Treading Through Darkness" or the long yet truly enchanting solo on the amazing "The Warrior", complete with some of the best singing on the whole album. The main melody is offered first via the vocals and then through Yossi Sassi Sa'aron's guitar and climaxes with an intense run-out passage. "Disciples of the Sacred Oath II" is arguably the band's most diverse song to date, as it mixes a plethora of chants, both Yemeni and Hebrew, death growls, fierce double bass drums, complex instrumental passages, traditional instruments such as the saz and chumbush, as well as film score-like melodies that attest to the band's indisputable interest in 70's Turkish music. Those of you who will get the special edition with the DVD can also hear the band's cover version of Turkish rock giant Erkin Koray's classic piece "Estarabim". The album's finest duet between Kobi Farhi and Shlomit Levi is definitely "New Jerusalem". Unlike many others, I do not think that the album opener "Sapari" is among the album's highpoints,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost; Brand: Elegy; Review: Lost marks the end of an era for Dutch melodic metal band Elegy, as it is the last album featuring Eduard Hovinga on vocals. After this album, Hovinga would be replaced by the great Ian Parry, who would turn the band into a tighter act with progressive and symphonic elements. Hovinga, on the other hand, would continue his musical endeavours in another worthwhile group, Prime Time. Unlike the first two albums, Lost maintains a more focused approach to songwriting, as it hardly strays from their determined speed metal aesthetic with touches of symphonic keyboards, face-ripping guitar attacks, and stratospheric vocals. Hovinga continues to sing in his typical John Arch-inspired screams, except for the album's ballad of course. Though he doesn't quite get to the excellence of Arch, he fills the choruses of tunes like the title track, "Everything", and "Crossed the Line" with gripping melodies. His harmonies have more staying power this time around, and he also plays some guitar on "Under Gods Naked Eye", the ballad of the album. Guitarist and main songwriter Henk van der Laars' playing shows immense growth -- on this album he converges his influences more smoothly. Traces of Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, and John Petrucci are less readily audible, as he has developed his own voice. On the short instrumental track, "1998", he plays over a nice keyboard melody with great tone. His partner, Gilbert Pot, provides a welcome counterpoint to his smooth, melodic signature sound as he lays down the necessary riffs and rhythms to the music. The syncopated guitar fury alongside the heavy-duty bass lines on "Spirits" contributes to the diversity of the album. Actually all of the songs are replete with his speedy guitar licks and intense riffing, but there is always space left for the keys and van der Laars to instill a melodic subtlety. The keyboards are very gentle in the mix, but they subtly enhance the songs without detracting from the metallic quality. They creep through the songs achieving deeper atmospheres and dramatic passages. On the following Parry-era albums, they would be worked into their songcraft more effectively, however. The remastered version contains two bonus tracks: demos of "I'm No Fool" and "Labyrinth of Dreams", both recorded in 1990. Lost is arguably the best album from the Hovinga period with the best production and most focused songwriting. That said, the band would surpass it on their future releases.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Evolution of Chaos; Brand: Heathen; Review: Both Breaking the Silence and Victims of Deception by Heathen are classic albums, but they have always been overshadowed by other thrash bands' releases that came out during the same period. The Evolution of Chaos is Heathen's first album in nearly 20 years -- unlike many other reunion/comeback discs, however, it is an unparalled success that will take its place among thrash metal masterpieces in the years to come. This album is the epitome of thrash metal that avoids the pitfalls of any modern-sounding so-called metal albums. It maintains a very nice early 90s feel to it, utilizing hammering riffery from the outset, the unmistakable melodic facade brought to the songs by vocalist David White, and of course Lee Altus' signature guitar sound. The comparisons to later day Exodus are not completely off, given three of their (past) members make an appearance on this album and Altus is the primary writer. That said, Heathen's songs are a lot more varied and melodically developed. This definitely stems from the fact that all of the compositions impart indelible harmonies. Take the dual guitar force of "Control by Chaos", complete with intricate twin guitar sweeps, skin-peeling thrash riffs, and ultimately melodic harmonies. Whilst the song involves all the necessary thrash metal ingredients executed with primitive hunger, it is the guitarists' melodic explorations and White's gripping vocal parts that set it apart from other acts' releases. Also, the song contains a dexterous mid-part with hammering staccato riffs that precedes a fantastic run-out solo. Two songs from the band's 2005 demo have been carried over to this magnum opus. "Dying Season" is a maelstrom of riffs and speed-of-light fretwork while "Arrows of Agony", epic in scope, merges relentless aggression with smooth melodies without pushing the song into "cheese" category. As a matter of fact, the solo on the song is so emotionally performed it makes for a religious experience. The melodic focus is further highlighted in the intro of "Undone" before a rhythmic anchor of drums and bass is worked into the mix, shifting the piece to its deserved thrash zone. The centrepiece of the album is "No Stone Unturned" -- at over ten minutes, this song would be the best choice to represent the current Heathen sound: steady, unbreakable thrash metal riffs are wrung through a sick time signature with phenomenal guitar and bass (the fretless bass part is played by Steve DiGiorgio) interaction. The melodies are the best ever and they will reveal themselves more upon repeat listens. The calculated unison solo towards the end is quite possibly the album's highpoint from a creative standpoint. The final melody played atop this unison solo is mindblowing. It proves the creativity of Heathen has only increased during their hiatus. What makes this album so great is also that each song stands on its own with its distinctive melodic traits and compositional elements. There is the technical piece "Fade Away"; the ballady "A Hero's Welcome", noteworthy for its shift between acoustic guitars and crashing metal thunder; the Exodus-like "Bloodkult", much more direct in its execution; or the blazing; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Snowfall on Judgment Day; Brand: Redemption; Review: With Snowfall on Judgment Day, Redemption recaptures the magic of their second album, their quintessential masterpiece, The Fullness of Time. The album is marked with a noticeable increase of level in the songwriting department, utilizing more addictive vocal melodies, dexterous guitar work, amazing rhythm parts, and great use of keyboards. All of the songs are rife with Redemption's trademark riffery, slicing through melodic phrases of guitar harmonies and synth patches. Primary songwriter Nick van Dyk continues to impart corrosive riffs and melting leads alongside his rhythm guitar partner Bernie Versailles. More than prior releases, the interplay between the guitars is more elaborate, sometimes building from a single riff to mammoth soundcapes. A prime example of this feat is the second track "Walls" -- it starts off with eerie, industrial-like beats, but they're quickly replaced by wall-of-sound guitar harmonies, a fantastic chorus, and fuzzy bass lines. Alder really outdoes himself here, producing some of his most memorable melodies in Redemption. The guitar work is solid on the whole record, but there are some pieces which deserve special mention. The use of eastern scales on "Another Day Dies", one of the heavier cuts on the CD, adds a cool texture to the riffs. It is also punctuated by a great bass line by Sean Andrews who fills each song with a strong low end. The song features Dream Theater singer James Labrie duetting with Ray Alder -- this is their first duet since Fates Warning's 1991 album, Parallels. The incorporation of synths into the rock-solid guitar sound is seamless. New member Greg Hosharian does a great job on the keys, rendering the compositions more nuanced. His playing is subtle yet when the keys are brought to the front they make the songs all the more interesting. Sometimes it's a simple melody or a patch, but each song offers him enough space to lend it an extra dimension. On "Black and White World", the part where his atmpospheric patch slowly disappears under a storm of riffs and exquisite drum fills is stunning. Hosharian, unlike Nick van Dyk who performed the keys on earlier albums, has a more noticeable touch to the songs, particularly in the unison leads. The song towards the end sees him swapping lines with van Dyk, but he never steals from the piece, as he treads back and allows van Dyk to wrap everything up with a brilliant run-out lead. This experiment is reintroduced on "Fistful of Sand", the album's heaviest song in terms of production. The guitars are atypical of any earlier Redemption material. They have a jarring and discordant effect, lending themselves to dissonant territory, and when they clash with the synths they create chaotic instrumental sections. This is also evident on "Leviathan Rising", which intentionally puts Alder's vocals to the back, and highlights dissonant guitar phrases over spoken male and female vocals, and the machine-like precision of drum (Chris Quirarte is a monster!) and bass parts. That said, Nick van Dyk still manages to divide the piece with his classic piano breaks and Alder's unmistakable vocalizations. The two mandatory; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angel of Babylon; Brand: Avantasia; Review: Angel of Babylon marks the end of Tobias Sammet's successful Scarecrow trilogy. This is the final part -- interestingly, the second part, The Wicked Symphony, will be released Stateside a month later. As with all previous Avantasia discs, Angel of Babylon has a great array of guests, both vocalists and musicians. Besides Sascha Paeth's guitar parts, duties are shared by other great players including Bruce Kulick, Oliver Hartmann, and Henjo Richter. Each guitarist plays in his most suitable role: Kulick has been chosen to shine on the album's hard-rocking numbers, such as the nine-minute opener "Stargazers", the fast-paced "Rat Race", and the brilliant finale "Journey to Arcadia". Of these, "Stargazers" is easily the highlight of the album -- it sees vocal deities like Jorn Lande, Michael Kiske, and Russell Allen giving their best, with sweeing harmonies, excellent fretwork, thunderous drum parts, and of course Sammet's own touch. Unlike the Metal Opera discs, Angel of Babylon is more like a compilation record with more varied songs. This gives it a more diverse nature, as it consists of the typical Euro power metal style songs like "Promised Land"; the more hard rock-based cuts "Angel of Babylon" and "Your Love is Evil" (check the 80's vocal choruses!); and even the more daring, somewhat goth metal-like "Symphony of Life", sung by Cloudy Yang. This is a song with lots of synth parts, in part electronical, a huge chorus in the mould of Anneke van Giersbergen circa The Gathering's If_Then_Else period. Also, there are the very typical 80's ballad kind of songs on this album: "Blowing Out the Flame". Here, Sammet sings exactly like Jon Bon Jovi. Think their These Days album, which was basically an album of a million ballads. The singing is almost identical to Jon Bon Jovi's: low, gruff, and bluesy. "Down in the Dark" will stand out after repeat listens. It is atypical in that the guitar work is very experimental, almost progressive, with plenty of stop-start parts, weird bending, unusual tone selections, and drive. "Death is Just Like a Feeling" is the song with Jon Oliva. It is amazing to hear him in a chorus-laden piece, since he has never sung like this before. It starts off with his trademark laugh, his evil delivery, but grows into a huge, Avantasia-worthy chorus -- it's simply amazing. I would have never thought it possible to hear Jon Oliva in such a musical setting. Sammet concludes the last part of the piece with some female backing harmonies and gripping melodies. Bob Catley is easily the most stand-out vocalist on the album. His performance on "Journey to Arcadia" is breathtaking, especially in the parts where he is supported by Jorn Lande. This is the kind of music that suits Catley best, unlike on the last Ayreon disc where he was given too little space. When allowed to carry whole verses and even choruses, the man becomes a vocal god. This song is also important because it explains how the main character in the trilogy ends up in a mental institution still resisting the temptation brought on; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dismantling Devotion; Brand: Daylight Dies; Review: A genre primarily pioneered by the likes of Katatonia, Anathema, and Paradise Lost in the early 90s, slow yet melodic doom-death has been explored by a million bands in the following years, but very few of their releases have stood the test of time. Daylight Dies' Dismantling Devotion is an exception. I don't even recall the last time I was so blown away by an album in this style. The reason this album stands out from the pack is not because of its groundbreaking nature. Rather, this album, to me, is one of the genre's best because it embodies the European doom metal akin to early Katatonia, October Tide, Rapture, and brings in the melodic sensibilites of other bands like early Amorphis, Novembre, and even Opeth. It is hard to believe this band is from the USA -- they're perhaps the only American band, along with Agalloch, that capture the essence of their respective genres while still succeeding in preserving their own character. This is the band's highwater mark. It improves on their more doom-laden sound heard on No Reply, with a noticeable increase in the songwriting department. Without doubt, the improvement has a lot to do with the addition of new vocalist Nathan Ellis. His growls are monstrous and pain-ridden throughout the whole album. Besides relaying the melancholic lyrics, his singing also functions as an added layer to the music, as his timing and enunciation are perfect. Fans of the genre will be floored of his singing on "Dead Air," where he lays down deep, guttural growls atop threads of melodic guitar harmonies and a rather central bass figure. The only other American singer that I can think of is Paul Kuhr of Novembers Doom, who is also great at portraying misery with his singing. Though the majority of the songs feature Ellis' death growls, bassist Egan O'Rourke provides some clean vocals, most notably in the intro of "Solitary Refinement" and the strong mood-setter, "A Life Less Lived." That said, his contribution is more so for contrast. You can check out the band's 2008 album, Lost to the Living, if you want to hear him do two full songs with clean vocals. Personally, I prefer Dismantling Devotion. The guitar work is also fantastic. This is the album when guitarist Charlie Shackelford joined the band as a full-time member, and his presence lends the songs more depth. Generally, the songs are paced rather slowly but each one of them boasts certain passages where things pick up and offer unforgettable melodies at key points. The use of acoustic guitars is kept to a minimum -- they're mostly utilized in the intros briefly before mammoth guitars soar above them with churning riffage. The best song to enjoy the guitars is the instrumental title track, which also closes the album on a dirge-like note. There's not riff of nimiety on this one -- I wish there were more bands that professed the "less is more" principle. The songs are extremely well produced thanks to Jens Bogren. I can see if some doom metal fans may; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Illud Divinum Insanus; Brand: Morbid Angel; Review: Illud Divinum Insanus is not only the worst Morbid Angel album, but perhaps the greatest disappointment in the death metal genre. This isn't a bad album for the techno influence alone. Actually I like industrial influences in metal. I like bands that incorporate those elements. I think it can work really well in death metal. But I don't like this. I could list all the bands that experimented at some point in their career. I could write down each one and list the reasons why their album from their 'new era' was a solid piece of work, but I won't. It would be a waste of time. I have had to deal with equally horrible albums by other bands, but there is a difference between my hearing St. Anger, Operation: Mindcrime 2, Crush, or The World Needs a Hero. I had long given up on those bands, and these discs only added more nails to their coffin. Illud Divinum Insanus is the first Morbid Angel disc that stinks from start to finish and severs any ties with the band's core sound. Maybe this disc wouldn't sound so bad if it wasn't a Morbid Angel record. It's just that their fans have obviously expected more from them being Morbid Angel with the return of a key member. However, the songs presented on this disc are terribly disappointing and as far removed from death metal as possible. And the songs that are supposed to be heavy are nothing but passable death metal. I literally cringe at the cliche riffing, the extremely formulaic writing, and the awful techno influences. The 'normal' tracks on the album sound like leftovers from their Domination sessions in that they exude a groovy vibe tied with the industrial elements found on Gateways and Heretic perhaps. The compositions are designed in a terribly predictable manner. There are so many stop-start sections in the songs it is not even funny. Each passage is filled with stop-and-go style riffing which sounds bland, weak, and lifeless itself. Moreover, they are littered with Vincent's squawking, which could make any prior fan feel suicidal. The other tracks are worse. They are like a cross between Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie -- in some of them the guitars are either entirely absent or inaudible. Clearly, the ultra-clean and bassy production does not help. On first listen, your whole attention will inadvertently be drawn to the boring 'thump, thump, thump' tone that permeates the pieces. The guitar sound is lost in the background, and the few times you hear it, it sounds puny and watery. What's worse, repeat listens only serve to bring out worse parts and more irritating details. When I first heard the lyrics, I thought this must be a joke and this cannot be the real album. Then, when I heard the line "This is your one warning," I truly felt embarrassed for them. The track "I Am Morbid" should have been called "I Am Bored (Because I Can't Write Songs)." There is no build-up or tension in ANY of the songs. They all just; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Beginning of Time; Brand: Amorphis; Review: The Beginning of Times is the fourth studio album with Tomi Joutsen behind the mic, and it continues to expand on the paths forged by its predecessors. Musically, it is informed by similar themes albeit they are somewhat softer and the compositions are slightly simpler. That, however, does not mean there aren't any heavy moments on the CD -- it's just they are not as elaborate as on their earlier releases, particularly the astounding Eclipse. The songs are all punctuated with soaring clean and growled vocals, supremely melodic guitar passages, folky-driven sections and instrumentation, and female vocals. Unlike previous albums, female vocals feature more prominently on The Beginning of Times, especially on the softer tracks "You I Need" and "Soothsayer," which is decorated by a beautiful Middle Eastern-flavoured guitar solo. Elsewhere, the female vocals are still present on nearly every track, yet they are relegated to background harmonies adding depth to Joutsen's vocals. There is a stronger emphasis on folk-laden themes on this album. "Song of the Sage" boasts a powerful flute arrangement while "Battle for Light" and "Mermaid" are both hugely melodic and reveal their Finnish roots. The transitions between clean and guttural vocals on the former are sublime indeed and the choir-like singing on some of the tunes, especially during the choruses, is powerful and unforgettable. Once again, this is a concept album, but I haven't had the chance to fully examine the lyrics yet. The instrumentation is varied with an abundance of pianos, synthesizers, and cleaner guitar passages all leading to huge crescendos and soaring vocal moments. There is an undeniable sense of heightened melody, but contrary to Eclipse and Silent Waters, the melodies are more accessible and permeat their whole craft. This may yield different feelings, considering melodies were offered during key points on prior releases thus helping to create thicker and more formidable tension. On The Beginning of Times, each track being imbued with melodic segments does seem to be overkill, as it renders some of the tunes too 'happy' at points. Also, some of the melodies wrought into the compositional framework are not as memorable as others. Just like the artwork of the previous album Skyforger was influenced by A Static Lullaby's Faso Latido, this one seems to be definitely inspired by Wolfmother's Cosmic Egg. While good in its own way, I still think the cover art (and the songwriting) of Eclipse is their best out of their last four. That noted, this album will not disappoint the band's fanbase.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Iconoclast; Brand: Symphony X; Review: It is unfair to expect a return to the band's earlier, more progressive work, as it would be impossible for Symphony X to recreate the charm and magic of masterpieces like The Divine Wings of Tragedy or V: The New Mythology Suite. They explored all the parameters of that field to the max on those albums, and any attempt would fall short off the mark. It was time to move on. They are a different band now. After their transition into heavier territory with The Odyssey, the band released Paradise Lost, replete with groove-inflected riffs, gritty vocals, subdued keyboards, onslaughts of metallic fury, and a more straightforward vibe. In many ways, Iconoclast expands on the aesthetics of the previous album. Having partly removed himself from neoclassic influences, Michael Romeo's playing has taken on tenacious, corrosive riffing. Most of the songs are imbued with rapid-fire riffs and his guitars besiege the mix in pretty much every track. His use of taking a main riff and then doing interesting permutations off of it has reached a new level, as he shifts from straightforward metallic riffery to Middle Eastern themes visiting neoclassical domains in between. Russell Allen still delivers gritty vocals, at times backed by dark choir-like chants in the background. His aggressive vocals have become the trademark for the new Symphony X sound, given these songs cannot be sung otherwise. That's not to say he does not make use of his clean vocals. Actually when listened carefully, the shift between vocal styles is done for a reason. Allen employs the grit for dynamic expression and in order to portray a wider range of emotions. That is the reason why tracks like "The End of Innocence" and "Children of a Faceless God" achieve their full potential, particularly when complemented by the dexterous guitar work. Also, the band hasn't abandoned their roots completely. "When All Is Lost" is rife with nuance, boasting majectic synth work, hook-laden melodic vocals, and wonderful harmonies. Michael Pinnella is present in the mix throughout, adding a rich sound to the piece. Mike LePond's bass is loud and central to the composition as well. Notice how he accentuates the piece beneath Romeo's restrained solo before everything cuts out for Pinella to lay down his signature keyboard line. The 2-disc version of the album is essential, as some of the songs are actually so good it would be a shame to miss them. Fans of older material may enjoy "Prometheus (I Am Alive)" for its layered guitar riffs, crystal clear vocals, and concise drumming. Overall, this album surpasses Paradise Lost for me, but I still gravitate towards The Odyssey for achieving a finer balance between their more prominent progressive leanings and heaviness. That said, judjed on its own, it doesn't get better than this. This album is staggering in scope and mindblowing in its delivery. On another note, the artwork, at first glance, reminded me of Evergrey's second album, Solitude Dominance Tragedy, which is a good thing, of course.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Memories In My Head; Brand: Riverside; Review: This EP sees Riverside returning to their first label The Laser's Edge to commemorate their 10th anniversary. They had started out with The Laser's Edge before moving onto Inside Out for their following three albums. At this point, I don't know if this is a one-off album with The Laser's Edge or not, but whatever it is, Memories in My Head is a fantastic release. Though some have claimed that it is a return to the sounds of their debut, I beg to differ. While many fans will agree that the three songs here (at nearly 33 minutes) revisit the moodier and spacier side of their first disc, the songs involve more of the songwriting aesthetic that bridged their second and third albums, especially the latter. This is primarily because of keyboardist Michael Lapaj who has a totally different approach to composition than the original keyboardist. Lapaj's melodies develop more thoroughly, and he covers a broader spectrum of sound colours in his playing. From his use of quiet synth bleeps that evoke Porcupine Tree to denser explorations that tread the delicate line between vintage analog synths and more modern vibes, Lapaj achieves atmospheres like no other keyboard player in the genre. He leaves his sonic imprint on all three songs, recalling the more mood-intensive passages on Rapid Eye Movement with his frequent use of 'vertical' melody injections. At one point, he even exchanges a great unison solo spot with Piotr Grudzinski on "Living in the Past" which is not only the best track on this EP but also one of the finest in their entire catalog. Vocalist Mariusz Duda leaves aside his more aggressive vocal style in favour of a smoother, calmer delivery (and definitely see them live if you can cause his live voice is exactly the same as on the album). Except for climaxing moments during the 'choruses' (like the 'I'm not going to live like everyone!' part on "Living in the Past"), he adopts a wonderfully melodious tone, employing his unique vocal emphasis at the most emotive points only. With that noted, his bass playing has reached a completely new level here. His style weaves Geddy Lee's incredible melodic sense with Geezer Butler's incorporation of bluesy elements into metal, and yet he plays the bass a bit like Steve Harris, with forceful guitar-like riffing. The whole chord progression on "Goodbye Sweet Innocence" is built around his bass before the Middle Eastern-scaled synth and guitar solos roll into the mix respectively. The guitar work is still admirably restrained, revealing passionate Floydian licks and powerful themes attached to each composition more vividly with each listen. Travis Smith's artwork is again fantastic. I love all Riverside albums in terms of artwork, but this is one of their best. By the way, I recommend the US version of the album as it comes in a jewel case while the European version is a digipack. This EP is probably going to be the best EP of the year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dedicated To Chaos; Brand: Queensrche; Review: I'll be honest. Even though I've heard each and every Queensryche album, the last one I bought was Tribe. I hadn't liked the previos two discs before that one either, so I just gave up on them. Up to (and including Promised Land) everything they have done remains untouchable in my book. That said, I had no idea Queensryche could release such an abysmal album. This is the lowest of the low, the worst of the worst. It is obvious this band is Queensryche in name only. Geoff Tate brings back Kelly Gray as well as another bunch of 'outsiders' in order to write the most hideous album of his career. From the awful opener "Get Started" to the horrific "Got It Bad" (is this the worst song ever?) to the ridiculously pathetic "Luvn' U" and "Wot We Do" as well as the final song "Big Noize" (yeah, right), this has got to be a joke. I refuse to accept that either Tate's solo album or Q2K were as embarrassing as these. *Everything* is compressed to the max and mastered so loud that no matter how you play these songs, be it on headphones, your main system, or your car, it sounds like your ears are being raped by a huge, messy bass-driven sound and Tate's semi-sung, semi-spoken drivel. He simply gives a half-hearted performance here. At least he could have put some passion into his singing, as I still hold the view that he has a rich voice he could make use of with the right material. Wilton hasn't written or co-written anything on this one, and I doubt he would have been interested. As a result, his guitar is hardly audible in the mix, and some songs are so bass-centric that there is no room for the guitars. I'm not saying he should have had more creative input or Chris DeGarmo should come back, because honestly, no one can save this band anymore. Not even Tate himself. I wish I had never heard this disc.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Tony MacAlpine; Brand: Tony MacAlpine; Review: It has been ten years since Tony MacAlpine's last studio album, Chromaticity, came out. After that album, he toured extensively, mostly with Steve Vai, and was busy with both Planet X and a bunch of other stuff. Now with his self-titled solo album, he returns to exploring the perfect combination of instrumental virtuosity with cerebral compositions while utilizing his eight-string guitar work to diversify his craft. Starting with the heavy "Serpens Cauda," the album is filled with corrosive riffing placed on top of fluid synth lines (also played by MacAlpine) climaxing with blistering solos and thunderous drumming. Not all of the album is heavy and shred-intensive, though. On "Oludeniz," (which is a wonderful holiday town in southwestern Turkey) he marries his classical leaning with thunderous bass lines and immediate standout melodies. Songs like "Dream Mechanism" and "Ten Seconds to Mercury" harken back to the more fusion-laden compositions on Chromaticity with added experimentation, especially during the middle part of the latter. "Flowers for Monday" involves acoustic guitars played in sync with a slow piano motif while the intro of "Summer Palace" is so groovy during its intro it feels like it was attached to the rest of the song as an afterthought. Also present are the more modern-sounding pieces like "Angel of Twilight," complete with processed guitar sounds and industrial-tinged synths. The result is a varied album with some really strong material and some less than stellar tracks. Still, this album is well worth your attention, and a solo album in the true sense. MacAlpine plays all the instruments from seven- and eight-string guitars to keyboards to bass (and he also programmed the drums). The lineup behind him is equally impressive. Drum gods Virgil Donati and Marco Minnemann share the duties adding groove and rhythm when necessary. (If you enjoy this, you must hear Brett Garsed's new disc, Dark Matter, as well. It is so far the best instrumental album of the year for me.); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hypothetical; Brand: Threshold; Review: In some ways, Hypothetical is the most important album in the Threshold catalog. Unlike the albums that followed it, the songs on Hypthetical are the result of all band members contributing to the songwriting process and adding their own touch. It is diverse, progressive, melodic, and atmospheric at the same time -- with some of the finest vocal harmonies you will ever hear in progressive metal. After Clone, their first album with Mac on vocals, Threshold established their identity and put out their most cohesive body of work. The production is sublime, with great clarity on the instrumentation and tons of nuance for the attentive listener. Crunchy guitar work dominates pretty much every tune, plowing through complex passages underscored by Richard West's trademark synth lines. West is right up there with Kevin Moore in my books. He infuses the songs with his unmistakable atmospheric signature and keeps everything in balance. The blazing guitars and thudding rhythmic anchor are constantly capped by his clever synth notes, never sacrificing songwriting for pyrotechnics. His tone selection ranges from vintage sounds to modern, Andromeda-like futuristic elements, and his unison solos are breathtaking, more so due to their note choice rather than their flashiness. Unlike many of their counterparts, Threshold perfectly counterveils dexterous instrumental wizardy with gripping melodic harmonies and Mac's powerful vocalizations. Karl Groom's lead work on songs like "Light and Space" and "Oceanbound" are among his finest as is the 80s-like sweet lead of "Keep My Head," yet they are cleverly placed in the songs so as not to take away from Johanne James' drum slam and Jon Jeary's excellent bass parts. This is Jeary's final work with the band. His solo spot on "Long Way Home" carries the whole piece and works perfectly to contrast the smooth piano theme as well as the crushing main riff planted into mix. Though Psychedelicatessen is still a personal favourite and their final album with Mac, Dead Reckoning, their pinnacle, I consider Hypothetical their most complete piece of work that encapsulates the current Threshold sound. Also, the album boasts two of their best songs ever. Both at over 10 minutes, "The Ravages of Time" and "Narcissus" remain unmatched to this day. The songs are both unconventionally structured as they are informed by myriad soundscapes, be it tense silences, brief yet addictive piano breaks, sweeping guitar and keyboard solos, and Mac's otherworldly choruses (as well as prechoruses). The man's voice is a cross between a metallic Phil Collins and Jon Anderson, but still this comparison does not do it justice. His multiple vocal parts on both tunes would put any other prog band to shame. (He passed away a few days ago and I have been playing all the albums in his memory.) Many have said Threshold have expanded on the foundation they built with Hypothetical, and while that's a fair assessment, they never quite recaptured the same intensity again. This is an essential album for any progressive metal fan.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Souvenirs; Brand: The Gathering; Review: There is no denying that The Gathering became a completely different band with the arrival of Anneke van Giersbergen. They established themselves as one of the forerunners of female-fronted metal. Mandylion and Nighttime Birds, especially, are still considered their finest works by metalheads. With the release of the complex How to Measure a Planet?, they signalled their intentions to chart into more experimental territory while still retaining their heavier side. The result was a stunning tour-de-force, but it was also as far as they could go in that field, so they shifted focus once again, releasing If_Then_Else, easily their most experimental work with tons of electronic sounds and subdued guitar work. Though the album initially received mixed reviews, those who gave it a fair chance got to discover how rewarding and musically riveting it is. Souvenirs, on the other hand, showcases that Anneke van Giersbergen has assumed full control over the songwriting, pushing the band's boundaries to the extreme. Without question, this is the band's most complex album from a production standpoint. The band's years of work invested in it clearly shows. No other Gathering album exudes so much sonic clarity and diversity. Those willing to write it off as merely a 'pop album' are doing it a great disservice. Very few albums are produced this brilliantly with a wealth of nuance hidden under the songs which may seem simplistic and uneventful on first listen. Actually the songs on this disc are a tower of sound. "These Good People" and "Broken Glass" are imbued with slowly unfolding guitar crescendos used patiently to underscore Anneke's angelic vocals. The use of piano and percussion combined with deep Radiohead-like production brings to mind Bjork's masterpiece Homogenic in that the semi-electronic soundscapes creep secretly into the mix before opening a portal for Floydian atmosphere. Anneke van Giersbergen proves she is the greatest singer in the genre. She has always been great, but Souvenirs is her pinnacle. I can't help but compare whatever she does with her work on these songs. Her restrained semi-spoken vocalization on "Golden Grounds" and "Jelena" (the secret hit of the album), her lambent voice on the impossibly beautiful "You Learn about It" (the repeated ending verse is hypnotic), and her melting duet with Ulver's Garm on "A Life All Mine" (Anneke's best duet ever) are and always will remain unmatched. Her voice is so delicate and so sweet, and yet at the same time she can churn out the catchiest vocal hook you can expect on a track like "Monsters" when she shakes your foundations with her "If you come closer, I'll show you..." line. The instrumentation may seem flat and boring to the inattentive listener. However, the band has never produced anything of this caliber. They place great emphasis on achieving atmospheres, unafraid to delve into avant-rock category on the depressing "We Just Stopped Breathing" with tons of trombone and electronic beats in the background. The use of acoustic guitars set against sparse piano notes and simplistic percussion on the title track is possibly their most daring writing, and sees them; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: For The Love; Brand: Beyond Twilight; Review: For the Love of Art and the Making is the third Beyond Twilight album written, produced, and recorded by mastermind Finn Zierler and Jacob Hansen (with some help by Tommy Hansen). The lineup is the same except that Zierler's chosen a new singer for the album (the first two discs had different vocalists as well). Bjorn Jansson from Tears of Anger is the new singer who you will undoubtedly compare to previous guys Jorn Lande and Kelly Sundown Carpenter, especially during the heavier parts where he opts for some serious throaty vocals that sound amazing. That said, the vocals are no where near as out front as on the previous releases this time around. On the contrary, they are slightly behind Zierler's dazzling keyboard work and Tomas Freden's pummeling drums. This, however, is definitely a conscious effort on both Zierler and Hansen's parts, as the vocal mix has a deep purpose to it. My understanding is that Zierler wanted to keep the vocals as just part of the songs, rather than the songs themselves, and therefore wrote some of the pieces emphasizing his diverse keyboard and piano sections (by far his most diverse to date) and left more space for heavy guitar runs. Yes, this album is a lot heavier than the earlier discs; its raw sound, crunchy guitar drive and impeccable rhythmic anchor make for one hell of a listen. The disc is divided into 43 sections (with three hidden cuts) and is reminiscent of Edge of Sanity - Crimson II in this aspect. However, all tracks smoothly bleed into each other, making a one-track album that clocks in at nearly 40 minutes. Guesting two members from Circus Maximus (speaking of which, have you heard Circus Maximus' 2005 debut yet?), Truls Haugen and Michael Eriksen, For the Love of Art and the Making is the most complex album Finn Zierler has ever written. The album boasts passages laced with intricate instrumentation, where innumerable threads of melodies and riff-based textures are interwoven and embark on some of the most vivid and unorthodox keyboard lines and sequenced sections you'll hear. Zierler has really turned into a keyboard wizard here: the album is packed with blinding synth leads (and the guy solos like a madman!), atmospheric undercurrents, and waves of experimental soundscapes. The dark, cinematic aura that permeated the previous album Section X is readily available here as well, but the music also focuses on amazing guitar work, which seems to alternate between sparse yet effective riffery to terrific leads as on "Temptations" and hard-rocking cuts such as "Dark Wild Rage", a song that boasts huge drum beats, weird sound effects that almost border on industrial, hypnotic synth layerings, and vocals that are as aggressive as they get. I stopped worrying about Zierler's choice of singers ever since he won me over with Kelly Sundown Carpenter doing a great job filling Jorn Lande's shoes. Bjorn Jansson is no exception. He proves to be a dangerously wicked singer, delivering each piece with utmost emotion on pieces like "The Perfect Heart" where we sings passionately over; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sympathetic Resonance; Brand: Arch/Matheos; Review: This album sees past and present Fates Warning members coming together to write some of the finest examples of progressive metal with top-notch performance and production. Spinning on an axis of unique vocals and dark guitar passages, Sympathetic Resonance is the first album to feature John Arch behind the mic since his 2003 EP, A Twist of Fate. Again written by guitarist Jim Matheos and vocalist John Arch, the album contains six tracks, three of which break the ten-minute mark. Though this was originally supposed to be a Fates Warning album, the duo ultimately decided against it, and rightly so. The compositions are dark, complex, and *very* heavy. None of the Alder-era albums is as heavy as this disc (though they are all fantastic in their own right). By heavy, I am strictly referring to the overall atmosphere captured on the album rather than Meshuggah-like guitar riffs or blindingly fast solos. As a matter of fact, solos are kept to a minimum, and only inserted to deepen the already complex pieces. The extended instrumental parts are often embedded as a break in the songs for added tension. That is one reason why the relatively midtempo "Any Given Day (Strangers Like Me)" achieves its full potential. After a mesmerizing opening riff, the band moves into an improvised jazz passage with beautifully accented drum and bass work followed by clean acoustic guitars over which Arch lays down his hypnotizing vocals. By the time the solo kicks in, you already have goose bumps and the lead work only prolongs the experience. Despite not being musically active for over two decades, it is amazing to see John Arch still being the best singer in this style of singing. There are numerous vocalists who can sing in a very high register, but no one can sing as high AND melodically as Arch. He exploits his talents to the max on this album, from soaring vocal parts to unusually complex harmonies (influencing a plethora of singers like Oyvind Haegeland from Spiral Architect) to soul-wrenching mid registers. His vocal lines are unique, and anyone who tries to imitate him is bound to fail. Not only does he employ his trademark screams, but he also constantly builds tension over the notes, making you pay attention to the lyrics. The band's approach to composition is to be commended as well. I absolutely love the use of a gradually building rhythmic motif based on a complex pulse over which swirling melodies are played. Drummer Bobby Jarzombek puts in a career-defining performance here: besides his use of polyrhythm and great drum tone, it is his fills that totally define and direct the compositions. His drums come in rolling to the mix on "Neurotically Wired" where he sometimes accents three lines at the same time! His splashing cymbal work lends "On the Fence" a live recording vibe. The band's keen sense of improvisation adheres to the principle of each member listening to each other rather than giving solo performances. They all feed off each other, keeping it a strictly group affair and making creative; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dramatic Turn of Events; Brand: Dream Theater; Review: The first Dream Theater album without founding member and original drummer Mike Portnoy, A Dramatic Turn of Events will certainly continue to divide the fans, especially those that are extremely upset or pleased by Portnoy's departure. Without getting into that debate, I will just mention that the sound achieved on the album is still unmistakeably Dream Theater with a few minor differences. The album has a great flow to it. The songs are tied together organically exuding some of their freshest ideas in a while. Jordan Rudess, in particular, expands the songs' chordal parameters and no longer strictly functions as Petrucci's shadow, coming to the fore prominently both during the choruses and solo passages. He also avoids using his more eclectic synth patches and tones as he plays to the strength of the compositions. Of course, he is integral in the unison leads of tracks like "Bridges in the Sky" and "Outcry," both of which exceed the ten-minute mark. Rudess also showcases his experimental side: the Tuvan throat singing at the beginning and end of "Bridges in the Sky" is obviously sampled from Omnisphere as are the gothic-like cathedral-sized 'choirs' and string arrangements. Having recorded the vocals on his own in Canada, James Labrie adds his sonic imprint to some of the tunes much the same way he does on his solo material. Two of the album's ballads, "This is the Life" and "Far from Heaven," both boast majestic piano lines and great melodic segments. There is none of his more aggressive vocalizations present on this disc, though he still exploits his darker tones, as witnessed during the intro of "Lost Not Forgotten," arguably his finest moment on the album. Instead of screaming, he builds tension over several notes. This track also eerily recalls the band's majestic track "Under a Glass Moon," not in terms of melody construction but arrangement. The band adopts a similar approach to developing the piece using plenty of harmonized fretwork atop a powerful theme introduced in the beginning of the song, which climbs throughout the whole piece until the finale. John Petrucci's playing is surprisingly restrained apart from the whacky instrumental sections the band is known for. Even then, though, his playing takes on a dreamlike quality. Penned by John Myung, "Breaking All Illusions" is possibly his most emotionally draining guitar solo since the reworked "Hollow Years" version. It builds slowly, but has a defined purpose and melodic weight to it at the same time. It seems almost improvised, but due to its climax, also painstakingly composed and well arranged. Petrucci's tone here has more definition which heightens the scope a notch, obviously. Simply wonderful. Some may argue that, because Mike Portnoy is out of the band, John Myung's tone is audible and the most central aspect of the album. Well, that assessment cannot be further from the truth. Myung still plays much the way he has on the past releases. Apart from the obvious bass lines here and there (check the album opener or "Outcry"), he still utilizes deep bass notes rather than extraneous, protruding lines,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anubis Gate; Brand: Anubis Gate; Review: Anubis Gate's self-titled fifth album sees a substantial change in the band's sound, as Jacob Hansen, the vocalist on the band's previous two albums, is now gone and bassist Henrik Fevre has replaced him. It is an interesting change in the lineup because Fevre is said to be the writer of the vocal melodies on previous releases, but hearing him sing produces different results. His voice is neither as distinctive as original vocalist Torben Askholm's nor as powerful as Jacob Hansen's. He possesses a clear midrange tone to which he sticks throughout the whole course of the album. Though he has a nice timbre to his singing, it does seem questionable whether he can carry the pieces to their deserved apex during the choruses. The songs on the album are characterized by melodic twin guitar work occasionally supported by discreet keyboards and clear-sung vocal harmonies. Unlike on previous discs, the speed of riffing has been toned down, perhaps so as to accommodate Fevre's vocal parts. In their place are heavy riffs that slice through melodic constructs and a solid rhythmic backbone. On a song like "The Re-Formation Show," for instance, they opt for a more riff-driven composition highlighting the clarity of the vocals on top of a strong keyboard presence before wrapping it up with an extended instrumental break. Also present in the mix are the more modern cuts "Facing Down" and "World in a Dream" of which the former sounds like an 80s pop-rock piece recycling its chorus too many times while the latter totally belies its roots, as it is built around semi-sung vocals and a repetitive, droney two-note riff. Hence, it is debatable whether these songs contribute to or detract from the unity of the album. The band tries to recharge itself with the relatively aggressive and uptempo "Desiderio Omnibus," but the faster moments drown out the vocals, and honestly, Fevre is not meant to do vocals in this type of music. He used to effectively support the guitars accentuating the pieces' moods on earlier releases, but now neither the low-end nor the vocal parts stand out with a few exceptions. I have always argued that the departure of original vocalist Torben Askholm affected the band negatively. While they produced strong material with Jacob Hansen on Andromed Unchained and, especially, The Detached, they also lost some of their uniqueness and own voice that is easily noticeable on the first two albums, with their debut Purification still being their finest hour, in my opinion.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bilateral; Brand: Leprous; Review: If you discovered Leprous with their previous album Tall Poppy Syndrome, you can safely pick up Bilateral because, being familiar with the band, you should know that you can expect something similar yet at the same time something different. That is to say the differences are there, but at the root of it the band is still the same band you discovered and came to love two years ago. Bilateral is harder to review because I've had it for only a little while now while I had years to fully absorb Tall Poppy Syndrome. In general terms, the new album delves into more experimental territory, exploring the depths of progressive rock with myriad sound textures, varied instrumentation, and stunning musical performances. Compared to its predecessor, Bilateral is definitely less heavy but it still retains the band's heavy/light characteristics in its varied song selection. The use of growls has noticeably dropped as well. Actually calling them 'growls' may be a stretch, as the aggressive vocals presented on this album are more akin to those on later-day Agalloch or Novembre discs more so than Enslaved, who Leprous is likened to mostly (maybe because both bands are from Norway). The only song that utilizes significant amount of aggressive singing is "Waste of Air" with its complex intro, pummelling drums, and off-the-wall arrangement. Other tracks feature the aggressive singing style sparingly: "Restless" sets jazzy drums against a powerful clean voice that is both very deep and affective. The production also highlights gorgeous distant vocals humming a sweet melody over a simple, two-note guitar chord. Sonically, the song recalls Devin Townsend's Accelerated Evolution until the harsh vocals kick in. "Thorn" suggests it was a leftover from Ihsahn's After album. Actually Ihsahn makes a brief guest appearance on this one. The song constantly shifts between catchy vocal parts to slowed-down jazz sections to aggressive singing, and the drum tone is excellent. The album's more atmospheric statements also indicate where they may be headed on their next couple of discs. Given the nature of these tracks, I actually wouldn't be surprised if the band abandoned the aggressive vocals completely after a few more releases. I can sense a distinct Kevin Moore vibe (think Chroma Key and OSI) in places here: "Forced Entry" boasts a wicked, complex riff with a cool bass solo that belongs more on a freestyle jazz disc than prog metal, but the detailed mix also opens portals for spacey instrumental parts with Moore-like keys lingering over them. Also, the more ballady "Mb. Indifferentia" recalls Moore in that it features semi-sung vocals. I am talking about his apathetic singing style, like he'd rather not be there. Finally, on the heavily bass-centric "Mediocrity Wins," vocalist Einar Solberg emotes spoken lyrics over a subdued guitar guitar arrangement and haunting keyboard lines, which wouldn't be out of place on OSI's underrated masterpiece Free. Those expecting heavy onslaughts of riffs with exploding shrapnels should look into the band's earlier discs as well as some Enslaved material. They won't find it here. That said, the band does know how to groove and; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heritage; Brand: Opeth; Review: In my review of Watershed three years ago, I predicted that the follow-up to this album would present a better picture as to where Mikael Akerfeldt wanted to be musically, and Heritage has proven this prediction to have been correct. No aspect of this album can be called metal, and I doubt any band member would present it as such. Heritage is radically different from its predecessors in shape, sound, and direction. The death vocals and heavy riffing have completely vanished, which will definitely please or disappoint a lot of fans depending on their preferences. In their place, the band builds complex songs that are rhythmically evolved with exquisite drumming. Martin Axenrot takes on a jazzy feel throughout the whole album, accenting the most critical beats during the songs. What many thought was gone for good after the departure of former drummer Martin Lopez is re-established with Axenrot's special attention to groove and detail. Like all of Opeth's albums, Heritage proves to be an extremely rewarding listen as its internal complexities unfold. The amount of detail to be found in the songs is amazing. Due to Steven Wilson's ingenious mix, the compositions are rife with nuance. I discovered Per Wiberg's creepy keyboards repeating Akerfeldt's vocal melody on "I Feel the Dark" and the very distant vocal hooks during the instrumental part of "Nepenthe" after giving the album many spins. This being Wiberg's swan song with Opeth, I particularly enjoyed his use of a wider palette of sounds, adding textures and atmospheres to the songs like never before. He is the reason why Heritage has become one of Opeth's darkest and most atmospheric statements. There are no individual riffs or themes that need to be highlighted; everything works to the perfection of the songs. There is a different level of cohesion between the instruments here. Apart from Axenrot's already mentioned drumming, the bass is central in the sound of this album. In the past, when Mendez put down his lines, they didn't always survive in the mix, partly due to the extreme density of the arrangements. On Heritage, his sound is larger and more focused. He covers a broad spectrum of sound colours, enhancing the guitar solos as well as laying down his own leads. "The Lines in My Hand" wraps a twisted bass solo into the tension-filled composition, thanks to the Mellotron swells in the mix. On the extremely haunting "Nepenthe," complete with deep background voices and excellent percussion, Mendez underscores the charging guitar solo, which suggests suppressed emotions breaking free due to the tense silence that precedes it. Though all songs are great, "Folklore" is one of the standouts. Some fans have complained about the lack of distinct melodies on the album. "Folklore" should please them from start to finish. It harbours indelible melodic contructs with the album's best instrumental break embedded within. Again the bass sound simply coheres better than on any prior release, and Mikael Akerfeldt's vocals at the end are achingly beautiful, not to mention the super-tight drumming. Actually, on this album, Akerfeldt's performance is uniformly stunning. The; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Falling Deeper; Brand: Anathema; Review: Following 2008's amazing Hindsight, Anathema have released their second compilation album, only this time focusing on their earliest material from their icy doom metal period. Whilst Hindsight involved songs from Eternity onwards, covering everything up to A Natural Disaster, Falling Deeper features interpretations of their doom era, especially their EPs, Crestfallen and Pentecost III, as well as their seminal full-length album, Serenades. Their transition album, The Silent Enigma, a great piece of work in its own right, is unfortunately represented with a single tune, "...Alone." However, unlike the original track, which clocks in at a little over four minutes, this one is stretched into well over seven minutes. Cavanagh brothers' sparsely plucked acoustic guitars are set against a discreet keyboard backdrop building patiently towards its apex with sweet female vocals and an orchestral arrangement. Speaking of female vocals, Daniel Cavanagh's long-time partner Anneke van Giersbergen lends her distinct voice to the hauntingly beautiful "Everwake." Her lambent voice is the main melodic tool in the composition and culminates with a stunning finale (check out Danny Cavanagh on Anneke's Pure Air album if you want to hear her in a more vocal-based tune with fantastic acoustic guitars). On the other pieces, melodies are developed in a landscape of acoustic guitars and subdued percussion, all foiled by evocative melodies and subtle themes thanks to what the band calls their lead 'feedback' guitars. Most of the songs are instrumental with vocal lines weaving in and out briefly during crucial moments. The songs rely on extended piano themes supported by orchestral string arrangements and plenty of acoustic guitars. The band's two doom masterpieces, "Crestfallen" and "Sleep in Sanity," are shortened to three-minute songs, and, therefore, lose some of their magic. It is understandable, though, as it is impossible to effectively transform doom into atmospheric rock. That said, those who have never heard Anathema's earlier material will definitely enjoy the 'new' versions for the strings and vocal harmonies. They sound like totally different pieces in their new format. While solid in its own way, Falling Deeper does not achieve the same level of brilliance of Hindsight, which actually saw the band change and add melodies and instrumentation to the original pieces without taking away their most immediate aspects. Falling Deeper remains true to the original cuts, but because they are informed by slow, heavily crushing doom passages, those parts have either been cut out or replaced by smooth orchestral sections, which has somewhat detracted from their overall quality. Still, this album is by no means a disappointment and should please the band's fans, especially those who have enjoyed their last set of releases. The production is marvellous, by the way.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grace for Drowning; Brand: Steven Wilson; Review: Grace for Drowning eclipses Steven Wilson's first solo album both in scope and composition. It covers a broader spectrum of sounds. While Insurgentes was heavily inspired by Wilson's love for 80s new-wave music, borrowing musical traits from Talking Heads, Joy Division, and The Cure, this album harkens back to the early 70s, with songs being highly experimental, much darker, and a lot more progressive. Having worked on a lot of early King Crimson material lately, there is no denying that some of the influence has crept into Steven Wilson's songwriting vision. This album is more daring in its approach to melody construction and flow. There are a lot of jazzy elements with extended passages for improvised instrumental bliss. Thanks to the jazz-inflicted drumming, there is plenty of dialogue between the soloists, but the Steven Wilson sound is fully intact. The compositions are characterized by dense soundscapes, but each piece is fragmented with lush, easier-to-digest instrumentation. The tension-filled "Sectarian" involves utterly dark acoustic guitars underscored by eerie percussion, tense silences, weird stop-start riffing at once bringing to mind a strange marriage between Univers Zero and Thinking Plague, but the second half is very accessible due to the sudden shift of mood highlighting the blend of the jazzy piano and Mellotron swells. Some tracks start and end abruptly while others serve as shorter pieces that tie them together. Wilson sets melting pianos and rising synth modulations against melodic constructs. However, the tracks lack tonal centres, and there is a vast array of electric and acoustic beats with shades of texture placed into sparse arrangements. There is no hierarchy of pitches focusing on a central note. Rather, the notes function independently of each other without adhering to tonal principles. This obviously makes some of the songs a more demanding yet at the same time more rewarding listen. At face value, some fans may write the album off as meandering, too slow, or too long, but this album seems very defined beneath the surface. Yes, it is long, but Steven Wilson chose to spread it over two 40-minute discs, rather than cramming it all onto a single CD. He hopes fans will tackle each album independently instead of trying to take all of it in at one sitting. The first disc is a little more song-oriented while the second one is darker and more experimental. That said, there are songs on each disc that are coterminous with each other. The short two-minute instrumental "Raider Prelude" on the first disc is actually just a foreshadowing of the 20-plus-minute progressive epic "Raider II" from the second CD. This monstrous composition recalls Lizard-era King Crimson in terms of ambition and breadth. Replete with Jordan Rudess' electric piano interludes and Mellotron-infested sound manipulations, it boasts cascades of guitars resolving with odd-time signatures under hypnotic, trance-like passages. All the while, Theo Travis' coiling flute and sax lines weave in and out of the dissonant composition, deconstructing it to its calm finale. Do not listen to this album in hopes of figuring out in which tunes the stunning list of guest musicians; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hunter; Brand: Mastodon; Review: The Hunter is the long-anticipated follow-up to 2009's Crack the Skye, one of Mastodon's finest achievements in their career. After exploring the limits of progressive songwriting with complex arrangements, excellent vocal melodies, and a perfect balance between heavy and melodic passages, the band decided to pursue a different musical style with their new release. This album marks an important step in the band's evolution. It was mixed and produced by Mike Elizondo whose resume includes non-metal artists like Dr Dre, Eminem, and 50 Cent. Worry not, though, the mix is spectacular and the sound clarity amazing (though I prefer the more dynamic production on their earlier work by far). However, Elizondo has definitely pushed Mastodon into writing shorter and less complex songs with heavier emphasis on melodic chord progressions and hook-filled arrangements. There is not a single song that reaches six minutes; the writing is more immediate and to the point. Actually, many of the songs are around the three-minute mark, with "Blasteroid" being even shorter: a punk-infested drive, simple yet powerful guitar work, and melodic vocals balanced out by aggressive singing make up the composition. The stylistic change in the band's sound and style cannot be entirely attributed to their new producer, however. They also have a new cover artist and they've changed their method of writing. While albums like Blood Mountain and Crack the Skye were painstakingly composed and took a long time to produce, The Hunter was recorded in only a few weeks. Also, the songs were largely written on the road while the band was on tour with Alice In Chains. The album sees Mastodon liberating themselves from conceptual boundaries. Rather than exploring more complex themes and writing everything under that theme, this time around, they've written songs that are independent of each other, songs that stand on their own. The band's enigmatic lyrics and approach to constructing riffs and melodies is fully intact with a few exceptions. "Curl of the Burl" starts with the line "I killed a man cause he killed my goat," a song whose swaggering groove was possibly inspired by a Queens of the Stone Age track. There are more overt references to their inspirations: I hear lots of Neil Peart-like drum fills by Brann Dailor whose performance is uniformly stunning on this disc. His playing on "Octopus Has No Friends" is impossibly tasty, and his tone is amazing. The song deploys an epic build-up with powerful vocals and deep-in-the-pocket rhythms. The way the cascades of guitars work to the anthemic chorus is nothing short of brilliant. The band also pays tribute to Pink Floyd in more than one track. "Stargasm" (with lyrics about sex in space!) is informed by Floydian synth swells eventually dissolving under thunderous drum attacks and liquidy instrumental passages while "Creature Lives" is unlike anything they have done before. It mixes tons of sampled voices, lots of keyboard effects, odd tonalities, and deep bass notes to achieve a unique sound with syrupy vocal lines, but honestly, it's not what I expect of Mastodon. I love experimental music, but I consider; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Oceana MTR73482; Brand: Derek Sherinian; Review: After 2009's disappointing Molecular Heinosity, which relied too heavily on the guest guitarists' chops and disregarded songwriting quality, Derek Sherinian returns with a strong effort. Thankfully, long-time drummer Simon Phillips is back as well, not only co-writing but also producing the album. Unlike the previous effort, Oceana is a very cohesive piece of work. The songs don't jump from complex metal numbers to fusion back to metal and then hard rock. Simon Phillips' touch is all over the disc and Steve Lukather has also returned. Lukather plays on three tracks, of which "Mulholland" juxtaposes hard-hitting drums with smooth, liquidy guitar phrases punctuated by Sherinian's jazz-infliced synth touches. "Euphoria" is the only slow-paced track and features Lukather's full, warm, and distinct guitar tone. He lays down a beautiful solo which resolves over the song's repeated central theme. However, "Seven Sins" is both Lukather's and the album's highlight. It starts out with somewhat cheesy 80s pop synths, but quickly develops a searing melody with mind-blowing drum fills and an extended bass solo, which is eventually concluded by a floating keyboard arrangement and an addictive solo. Derek is at his most expressive on this one. The first two tracks with Tony MacAlpine actually recall his recent solo album, so be sure to check it out if you enjoy them. These songs are also somewhat inter-related, as they both repeat the same melody played in a different key. This lends them a great sense of unity, and unlike the songs with Lukather, Sherinian quickly joins MacAlpine for dexterous unison solos. Of course, the songs are very different structurally: the first one is more shred-intensive while "Mercury 7" is jazzier and informed by a weird-sounding bass line. Speaking of jazz, much of the album brings to mind Jeff Beck (think Wired), and I actually listened to both records back to back and it worked perfectly. This is not surprising, given two key members, Phillips and Lukather, have contributed to this album. Derek Sherinian should forever work with this duo on his solo material. One of the newcomers is guitar god Doug Aldrich, who is featured on the Deep Purple-like "El Camino Diablo." His groove-locked riffs and Phillips' super-tight drumming are underlined by vintage Hammond organs that recall Uriah Heep at their finest moment. The bluesy sweep of "I Heard That" actually had me check the booklet because of the very different guitar playing. It turned out to be Sherinian's band mate from Black Country Communion, Joe Bonamassa. His soloing is quite different from the others; he opts for a very blues-oriented style and lends the song flair and intensity. You must check out both Black Country Communion discs if you want to hear them in a more straightforward yet grooving format. Unfortunately, one of the Steve Stevens tracks, "Ghost Runner," is way too eclectic and does not fully utilize Stevens' talents, given his amazing work. It's supposed to rock hard, but Stevens' guitar part is unnecessarily long and repetitive (but the drums are fantastic), and by the time he and Sherinian exchange melodies much of the song's; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: This Mortal Coil; Brand: Redemption; Review: This Mortal Coil is Redemption's fifth studio album and the follow-up to their amazing Snowfall on Judgment Day. My guess is that most Redemption fans will pick up this disc for similar reasons: corrosive riffing, melodic vocal parts that can only be sung by Ray Alder, a powerful and intricate rhythmic tandem, sparingly used keys for atmosphere, introspective lyrics, etc. However, the album falls short in one important department: production. It is interesting because years ago when Redemption released their debut album which was marred by a subpar mixing job, which totally killed Rick Mythiasin's career-defining vocal performance, I posted my thoughts on a message board which was also frequented by guitarist Nick van Dyk. I argued that Redemption should get Neil Kernon (Queensryche, Spiral Architect) for the next album (The Fullness of Time) because Kernon was easily the best producer on the planet that would achieve the perfect balance between such heavy riffs, mood-reflective atmospheres, and indelible vocals. Nick van Dyk was cool enough to email me personally and discuss the sound he had on mind for the new album. He said he had talked to Kernon, but a co-operation wasn't possible at the time due to conflicting schedules and they were definitely going to make it happen sometime in the future. He had decided to go for another great producer, Tommy Newton (who did the amazing Ark records), because he wanted to explore a warmer sound with more resonance. Every Redemption fan knows the result: The Fullness of Time is still the band's high-water mark, both musically and lyrically. Years passed, and Redemption continued to release solid albums, with The Origins of Ruin (also by Tommy Newton) being their finest work sonically but a step behind its predecessor in compositional quality; and Snowfall on Judgment Day (with Tommy Hansen) being a rawer yet more intense statement that, at times, matched the perfection of The Fullness of Time. I thought the work with Neil Kernon was never going to happen until one day it was announced that the duo had got together in order to create the "21st century Rage for Order." Obviously, I was ecstatic, but also slightly concerned to hear they were back in the studio so soon, given Nick van Dyk's medical condition. Nick van Dyk was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer a few years ago, but thankfully he is well now. Obviously, the lyrical subject matter is deeply inspired by his battle as well as coming to terms with mortality, to which the song titles also attest. Each Redemption album has been a personal release for van Dyk so far, but This Mortal Coil is definitely more intense for obvious reasons. The lyrics are dark and reflective and they are worked beautifully into the music with lots of recurring themes throughout the course of the album. Actually, the final track "Departure of the Pale Horse" revisits these themes and ties them together for a unified thematic statement. At over 10 minutes, it is also representative of the overall sound of the album. Back to the; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Road Salt Two; Brand: Pain Of Salvation; Review: Road Salt Two is a logical continuation of its predecessor. In many ways, the album reuses some key motifs and thematic ideas to organically tie itself into Road Salt One. Also, it retains the 70s vibe thoroughly and it is predominantly a solo album by Daniel Gildenlow, who wrote and arranged the whole disc while also singing and playing lots of instruments. Input from the other members is minimal from a compositional viewpoint, but some tracks have certain moments that allow them to shine. Where Road Salt Two sets itself apart from the previous disc is in its use of a broader sound palette. This album is darker and richer in texture, and the writing seems more progressive. This is not to say Pain of Salvation has gone back to their glorious days circa Remedy Lane; it is just that some of the songs involve elements that their older fan base might have missed on the past couple of releases. The extended instrumental section of "Eleven" is filled with focused grooves and fusion-laden guitar work that recalls the slower passages on a Liquid Tension Experiment song while the short yet beautifully crafted "To the Shoreline" wouldn't seem out of place on any of the band's more progressive-tinged discs, complete with Gildenlow's heart-wrenching, stop-start singing over a melting keyboard theme before the song develops into a mammoth soundscape with a powerful melodic facade. Equally riveting is "The Deeper Cut," arguably the band's most progressive metal-sounding number on this disc. The singing style evokes Gildenlow during his One Hour by the Concrete Lake period, but the rhythmic development is more direct and keys are used sparingly. It is one of the standout tunes on first listen, and the way the percussive instruments (strung across synths and bass) lay down the foundation for the ecstatic, never-ending "Into the wild" vocal 'dialogue' is stunning, if not slightly overdone. Daniel Gildenlow's vocals are at their expressive best. I can almost see the smile on his face recording them. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't be awestruck by his desperate singing in the beginning of "Through the Distance," which nicely segues into a longer and heavier piece. Although Gildenlow has stated that none of the songs here are autobiographical, I believe that the short ballad "1979" might be a personal song about him given the lyrics "Two children of six" (and Daniel was indeed six years old in 1979). It is not too hard to decipher the roots of this album as well as some of the other compositional ideas put together. The opening riff of "Eleven" sounds like something Ritchie Blackmore would have played if he were the guitarist in Black Sabbath. It is simple but very heavy. There are also shared themes and melodies on the album: "Softly She Cries" reworks the main melody of the "Road Salt Theme" to achieve unity, but I can't say I'm fond of Johan Hallgren's vocal part on this one or the song itself. Actually the main riff of this track is repeated at the very end of another; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tales of the Sands; Brand: Myrath; Review: Compared to Myrath's debut album, Tales of the Sands embarks on the more 'oriental' sound they established with their previous disc, Desert Call. While the first album was heavily influenced by Symphony X, featuring plenty of neoclassical guitar work and a more traditional prog metal singer, with the arrival of Zaher Zorgatti, the band has opted to create a sound steeped in Arabic, or 'oriental' as some call it, melodies and a more straightforward power metal sound with the occasional shred guitars, ethnic instrumentation, and more space alloted for Zorgatti's unorthodox yet engaging vocals. Zorgatti is as far removed from the operatic high-pitched wailers of the genre as only possible. He possesses a low, midrange voice which he utilizes to integrate quarter-step vocal lines to achieve a more Middle Eastern vibe. There is plenty of Arabic singing on the title track as well as "Beyond the Stars," which is used for bigger effect during the choruses. Being from Turkey, I am quite familiar with these 'oriental', North African, or Middle Eastern soundscapes, so hearing the region's instruments and overtly emphasized melodies mixed into the metal genre does not impress me as much as it may impress those unfamiliar with these sounds. I like it better when the Middle Eastern element is used moreso as a separate component of the music (think Mezarkabul's Unspoken or Amaseffer's Slaves for Life) rather than dictating and supporting everything under the moniker of progressive metal. Most, if not all, of these songs are melodic power metal pieces with heavy use of keyboards, neoclassic-tinged fretwork, and somewhat extended instrumental sections. There is nothing wrong with that, as it is done greatly, but it may leave fans of Dream Theater or Symphony X wanting for more. Highlights include "Apostrophe for a Legend" due to the strong vocals (it would be great if Zorgatti explored this style a bit further), the Orphaned Land-like stretch of instrumental break of "Under Siege", the ethnic percussion planted underneath a groovy bass pattern on "Merciless Times", and the weird midsection of "Sour Sigh" as well as the partly Arabic, partly English sung pieces. If you liked the previous album, you'll definitely like this one as well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reflections; Brand: Candice Night; Review: By now, pretty much everyone knows that Candice Night is the amazing vocalist of Blackmore's Night and she possesses one of the finest, most expressive voices in the world. Together with Ritchie Blackmore's guitars, they create truly heartfelt and powerful songs. Reflections is Night's first solo album. At only 38 minutes, all the songs were written by her, so it's a real solo effort in this sense. Her husband Ritchie Blackmore was not involved in the songs because he, too, encouraged her to make her own statement. Naturally, the album is quite a departure from the sound of Blackmore's Night. The songs on Reflections are more modern sounding with an easily noticeable contemporary slant. Besides the sizzling folk-inspired synth melodies of the aching ballad "For You" and Night's trademark 'storytelling' lyricism of "Robin Red Breast," the album develops a more modern sound and direction. Even these two songs are very vocal-driven, emphasizing her lighter-than-air vocals with perfect clarity and harrowing echo. Her breathy, lambent voice set against a melting piano motif and ethereal acoustic guitars on "Call It Love" suggests Candice Night would be played on the radio in a perfect world. She sings in a totally crystalline tone with sheer emotion and delicacy over sparse arrangements of percussion and some electronic beats. Her vocals are often treated with an overlay of reverb to give the songs deep space and resonance. The ending of "Wind Is Calling (Hush the Wind)" and effect-laden vocalization of "Dangerous Smile" are styles she could never explore in Blackmore's Night, and while I'm not too keen on hearing her in such a heavily electronic sound environment, I realize this is what solo albums and side projects are for. Most of the album is quite laidback to allow Night's voice to fully shine, and the main melodic tool is the use of keyboards. Still, Night utilizes some strings on "Alone with Fate," with accordion and violin sounds as well as on the short yet sweet instrumental piece "In Time." The reworked version of Blackmore's Night's "Now and Then (2011)," the first song Candice Night wrote in the band, cuts out the more folky acoustic passages and replaces them with a deep synth presence over which Night's pure, delicate voice is placed. It's also imbued with an extended coda, and while beautiful, the original song sounds totally different thanks to the touch of Blackmore. The country-like "Gone Gone Gone" might have been added to the album in order to diversify the album, but truth be told, I don't think it's one of her best songs. Unfortunately, the CD booklet only contains lyrics but no other information about the instruments and musicians who contributed to the songs. Maybe they were all studio artists, but it would have been nice to see what instruments were used in the final mix.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Visions; Brand: Haken; Review: Everyone who heard Haken's first album Aquarius knew it was going to be hard for them to match their debut, but the impossible has happened. Visions not only matches its predecessor, but it also eclipses it in scope and emotional breadth. For those unfamiliar with the band, Haken treads the fine line between progressive rock and progressive metal, with chops galore (never overused) and melodic constructs and compositional ideas that stand the test of time. In this sense, they could be compared to bands like later-day Sieges Even, Enchant, and Magellan, though musically all of these bands sound very different. Haken's music never gets overbearingly heavy, but it is not in the realm of Spock's Beard kind of progressive rock either. Actually, the music is very heavy in terms of feel and atmosphere rather than riffing and rhythmic movements. Visions sees the band growing into a darker realm compared to its predecessor (think Dream Theater's shift from Images & Words to Awake). The guitars assume a more prominent role in the songs; almost every song features intricate riffing and heavy arrangements. Both instrumental tracks, the Lloyd-Webber-style overture of "Premonition" and cleverly arranged "Portals" feature Richard Henshall and Charlie Griffiths' guitar riffs cutting through melodic contexts with awesome drum fills, dense key experimentation, chiming bass throbbing violently in a freeform jazz format, and smooth, liquidy guitar phrases. "Portals" is more intense, with dazzling stop-and-go riffing, overlays of jazz chords, atmospheric breakdowns, and a full, warm guitar tone. That said, the use of keyboards that defined the sound character of Aquarius is still very much intact. Diego Tejeda is the central figure of every atmospheric undercurrent. He punctuates both the vocals and guitars on "Nocturnal Conspiracy," possibly the most 'complete' song Haken has written. It has a strange "Bohemian Rhapsody"-like feel, developing patiently with spoken vocals which eventually take on a hypnotic quality with swift yet natural-sounding shifts in melody. Tejeda's brilliant piano work and role during the instrumental jam session elevates the piece to another level; it is his use of myriad sound colours and texture that conceals the internal complexity of the piece. His sonic touch involves thematic cross-chimings; everything is built on his calibrated beats and rests, meter and rhythm. Vocalist Ross Jennings is the kind of vocalist that if he were to leave there'd be no more band. He is crucial to the sound of Haken. His more theatrical singing, with the occasional death growl used for texture and contrast on Aquarius, has been replaced with more emphasis on unforgettable vocal harmonies. I'd liken his growth as a singer to that of Arno Menses' style from the first Sieges Album to their criminally overlooked masterpiece Paramount. On the piano ballad "Deathless," Jennings adopts a similar approach building tension which is impossible to ignore. This makes you focus on the lyrics which are never pretentious or overwritten (the melody and impact of the line "No one's gonna miss me when I'm gone" is addictive). The keyboards recall something Kevin Moore would play on the first Chroma Key disc: sparse, utterly dark,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stand Your Ground; Brand: Mike Tramp & Rock N Roll Circuz; Review: After White Lion and Freak of Nature, Mike Tramp put out a couple of very solid solo albums that sadly went unnoticed by even die-hard fans. Then, he toured as Tramp's White Lion for a while releasing the album Return of the Pride to mixed reviews, possibly due to the absence of original members (especially Vito Bratta). Recently, Tramp returned to his homeland Denmark and formed a new band: Mike Tramp & The Rock'N Roll Circuz. Stand Your Ground features Tramp's trademark songwriting vision melded with a more blues-tinged formula by his Danish band mates. Unlike his recent solo material, the album consists of rhythmically dense tunes (great bass tone) and a hard-rocking vibe permeating the majority of the songs like "Don't Let Them Put It on You" and "Got Me Crazy" as well as more personal tracks like "Straight from the Look in My Eyes" and "Wish You Well." I personally believe Tramp's finest solo albums are still his debut Capricorn and the very dark yet wonderfully written More to Life Than This, which features songwriting input by the amazing Oliver Steffensen as well as other greats like Steve Lukather and Eric Johnson. This album, on the other hand, is more of a band effort and, thus, it rightly sounds different to his prior work. Check it out to explore Tramp's current musical world. There is plenty of high-velocity drum and bass work underpinning Soren Andersen's blazing guitars. Andersen's playing is neither as flashy nor as unique as Tramp's earlier guitar counterparts, but he injects an undeniable live feel to the pieces and renders them all the more energetic. Tramp's vocal style is more in the vein of "Livin' on the Edge" rather than his more heartfelt singing heard on songs like "Have You Ever" or the impossibly beautiful "Darkness," songs that are predominantly defined by Tramp's personal lyrics, and an ingenious mix of subdued instruments with clear, powerful vocals. I just saw Tramp live last night with his great band in front of some 80 or so people and they still put on an awesome show playing most of this album, a few White Lion songs, a Freak of Nature tune, and Tramp's tribute to Ronnie James Dio, "A Hymn to Ronnie." They're a great band live, so don't miss the chance to see them if the opportunity arises.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Manifest Tyranny; Brand: Andromeda; Review: Andromeda received mixed reviews for their previous album, The Immunity Zone. Some of their older fan base felt it lacked the progressive mindset of albums like the artistically well crafted II=I or the more balanced Chimera, which blended their instrumental dexterity with more melodic tenets. The Immunity Zone showed signs of a band willing to expand into different territory, toning down on both the progressive side and complex arrangements, and replacing them with more straightforward songwriting traits. In a similar sense, the new album sees the Swedish band further delving into their stripped-down style, presenting us with tunes that are musically less complex and lyrically more audacious. No previous Andromeda album stood out for its lyrics this quickly. Many of the songs are driven by a political slant, often angrily directed towards politics, corrupt governments, and also committing crime under the guise of religious freedom. That perhaps explains why the heavy-duty opening riff of "Stay Unaware" quickly loses its impact, with lyrics addressing "the puppet we elect" or "False Flag," loaded with voice-overs from Barack Obama's "war is sometimes necessary" speech. Although used as a powerful production device, the use of voice-overs on some of the songs might turn listeners off. Obama's speech totally defines the entirety of "False Flag," one of Andromeda's most experimental songs complete with an electronic undercurrent and a Tool-like drum performance by Thomas Lejon which strangely recalls a mix of Dream Theater's "The Great Debate" and Sieges Even's "Mounting Castles in the Blood Red Sky" (with Martin Luther King's speech used for dramatic effect in an otherwise instrumental cut). A similar production technique is used on "Chosen by God" which sees vocalist David Fremberg applying a subtle yet intensely melodic edge to the song's chorus, possibly in order to provide contrast to the voice-overs. Fremberg's performance is uniformly amazing; he delivers the lyrics more like an actor on this disc. The chorus of "Lies 'R' Us" is one of his best yet, and it particularly works with the slowed-down riffing which makes a bigger impact. On "Antidote," the curious vocal mix saves a mediocre song from going downhill: the way Fremberg's vocals fade out and come back during the powerful solo piano interlude ends the whole album on a high note thanks to the wonderful guitar arrangement in the finale. Both guitarist Johan Reinholdz and keyboardist Martin Hedin put in a very restrained performance, with unison solos saved for the most pivotal moments. The interplay on "Stay Unaware" is short but all the more powerful for it. Reinholdz' bluesy licks that permeate the ultimately catchy "Lies 'R' Us" and "Play Dead" (again with voice-overs at the end) shift the songs into more rock territory, but his heavier staccato riffing is also present in the mix: the intro of "Preemptive Strike" suggests this is going to be the heaviest Andromeda disc only to evolve into very fluid, expressive guitar lines with a slick and warm guitar tone. Hedin's use of myriad sound colours throughout the album still makes him one of progressive metal's finest keyboardists. The synth solo; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lost In The New Real Digi; Brand: Arjen Lucassen; Review: Lost in the New Real is Arjen Lucassen's solo album consisting of two CDs. Unlike Ayreon and Star One, the album features vocals only by Arjen Lucassen this time around. The only other voice on the CD is that of Rutger Hauer, the legendary Dutch actor who provides the narration (this is, as expected, another concept album). Rutger has a great voice indeed; it's deep and full of charisma. On the first couple of listens, the songs will bring to mind Ayreon's The Dream Sequencer crossed with Lucassen's recent project Guilt Machine perhaps. The psychedelic soundscapes of the former and the smooth transitions of the latter are reworked in a decidedly more pop-flavoured format, resulting in shorter and more compact tunes. Of the 20 songs, only three break the six-minute mark and just one song clocks in at over 10 minutes. As some song titles like "Pink Beatles in a Purple Zeppelin" suggest, Arjen Lucassen pays tribute to his earliest inspirations; there is a good deal of Beatles, Zeppelin, Queen, Black Oyster Cult, and Pink Floyd to be found here. However, I can still find connections between the poppier material and Guilt Machine, which was a project Lucassen put together for that specific sound in mind. Those of us who have always been impressed by Lucassen's great selection of vocalists on Ayreon albums might feel some of these songs here could have been much better with different vocalists. Then again, this is the very reason why Arjen Lucassen has released this as a solo record, and his singing is what it is. I was personally delighted to hear some of the great vocal melodies that permeated the previous Ayreon stuff. If anyone ever wondered why singers like James Labrie, Mikael Akerfeldt or Jonas Renkse sound so different on the Ayreon stuff than their real bands, the answer lies within this album. Arjen Lucassen is not just a guitar player or keyboardist; he is the total package. Besides recording and producing his own material, he is also an excellent songwriter right down to the timeless vocal melodies that make albums like The Human Equation the masterpieces they are. On the album's most progressive-sounding tune "Lost in the New Real," I can actually hear similar vocalizations and melodies. Also, this is not to say the vocals are too monochromatic or one-dimensional due to Arjen not being a great singer. While his range is limited and his delivery far from being as diverse as that of a vocal deity, his clever mixing strategy and production style employs a plethora of vocal techniques: he uses plenty of vocal filters, processed vocal bits, and 'computerized' elements to diversify the album in that sense. This works particularly well in the songs' constantly shifting moods and ubiquitous rhythms. What may seem uneventful in places actually reveals how the seemingly simple arrangements boast powerful guitar themes hammered into shape with layers of shifting synths and strings until the pieces climax with towering crescendos. This is why Ayreon became the musical force it is and this is why this album is; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Am Anonymous: Limited; Brand: Headspace; Review: There has been a dramatic drop in the quality of progressive metal in recent years. Sure, many new bands continue to emerge out of nowhere, but very few of them manage to leave a lasting impact. Either they just disappear before getting a chance to release a follow-up to their decent debut or they choose to modify their writing so drastically that the end result no longer appeals to the prog metal listener. Headspace is an exception. Of all the 'newcomers', this band is bound to impress fans of progressive metal that adheres to the principles set by mid- and late-90s bands with a nod to the prog rock giants of the 70s, mainly due to the use of keyboards. Speaking of keyboards, the band is the brainchild of Adam Wakeman, the son of the legendary Rick Wakeman. Despite being primarily a keyboard player, Wakeman is a very prolific artist: he has played rhythm guitar in Black Sabbath, keyboards on Ozzy's solo album, and he also has an ambient instrumental disc (which I need to check out soon). His keyboard work is Kevin Moore-like in a way: dark, sparse, and atmospheric. It defines the sound character of the whole album. Rather than overplaying, though, Adam Wakeman promotes the less-is-more technique, employing sparse synth tones to achieve ominous soundscapes underscoring the heavy guitar work. Keyboard solos are kept to a minimum, as Wakeman definitely plays to the strength of the tunes, utilizing his agility and flashy lead playing during the most focal points only. The synth solo that enters at the end of "Die with a Bullet" is intoxicating! It is mindbendingly fast, but it retains its melodic focus all throughout and ends the song on a high note. On vocals, we have the great Damian Wilson, hence many fans will undoubtedly draw comparisons to Threshold and Star One. This comparison is not off, given Wilson's work on the second Star One album was stunning and every Threshold fan is looking forward to their new album, which is also going to be their first with Damian Wilson since 1997's Extinct Instinct. Wilson's vocal skills need no explanation; he puts in a career-defining performance here, which is saying a lot given the man's tremendous back catalog. He sings some of his most memorable vocal lines on this album, particularly on the last two tracks: the infectious "Invasion" and the impossibly beautiful "The Big Day." On the former, he delivers a narcotic melody over a slow-paced, tension-filled bass figure amidst slithering organ sounds while on the latter he proves how powerful and diverse a singer he is crooning over an ethereal, dreamlike strummed acoustic passage. His vocal melodies will stay with you for days on end. Some might expect Headspace to lean more towards the symphonic side of progressive music with guitars supplying texture and colour. While there's plenty of sound shapes added by the guitars, Pete Rinaldi also uses an 8-string to incorporate ground-shaking riffs a la Meshuggah circa Nothing. His riffs are calculated yet intense at the same time; they are used with; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: L'Enfant Sauvage; Brand: Gojira; Review: Some might be wondering how (and if) Gojira's music has been affected by their move to Roadrunner Records from Prosthetic Records on which they released their finest albums, From Mars to Sirius and The Way of All Flesh. Here's my 2 cents... L'Enfant Sauvage (roughly translated as The Savage Infant) retains all the characteristics of the Gojira sound their fans have come to love and respect over the years. It just puts on display another side of their current sonic vision. On first listen, the songs may feel like they lack a clear melodic focus or the maelstrom of fierce riffing complemented by aggressive vocals. However, the album does present strong melodies and details upon repeat listens. The compositions still bear all the hallmarks of the band's unique brand of metal while perhaps branching off into more experimental territory in places. Rather than focusing on achieving single-minded fury, aggression, or heaviness, the songs are more nuanced, constantly shifting and evolving. The stream of melodious riffing of the opening track "Explosia" is broken down into hypnotic instrumental passages informed by an enchanting clean guitar harmony which slowly morphs into a repetitive guitar drone cast over a landscape of sound textures and background effects towards the finale. Perhaps this is not their greatest album opener, but a very fitting one for this particular album nonetheless. Still, even in the initial plays, there are moments that will catch your attention. The second the title track kicks in, it presents an infectious guitar theme. It is simplistic but very effective due to its 'catchy' main riff and embodies the band's unmatched songwriting skills. The bass-centric "Liquid Fire" boasts an intoxicating guitar riff that is epic in scope and brilliant in execution. "Planned Obsolescence" starts out like an old-school death metal number, accentuated by octopus drumming and bone-crushing riff work, but a beautiful textural element is distilled into the finale. Likewise, "Pain is a Master" suggests it's the most minimalistic piece on the album due to its dreamy intro and soft, barely audible female spoken vocals. However, it reveals its true identity as it turns into a brutal and savage piece impelled forward by blast beats and molten shards of groove-inflicted guitar work. The final song "The Fall" starts out like it announces the beginning of World War 3; in its middle, it blends chanted vocals with blood-curdling death growls before dissolving into pure white noise as if waking you from your worst nightmare. Duplantier's vocalization is still characterized by a sense of urgency; he sings the lyrics with a tone of desperation and rage, and his diabolical screams eerily recall the vocals on Novembre's Blue (which they released after taking a break from screamed vocals on their previous disc, Materia). Perhaps on this album, his vocals are slightly more accessible because he uses a wider range of styles, from 'computerized' clean vocal sections to a plethora of deep, chanted vocals which evolve into punishing, feral screams or bowel-churning death growls in most of the songs. The singing on the epic "The Axe" is staggering and works; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Old Man & The Spirit; Brand: Beyond the Bridge; Review: Yes, it's a concept album. And no, I have no idea what it is about. At this point of time, I am more interested in the music more so than the lyrics. Beyond The Bridge is the brainchild of guitarist Peter Degenfeld and keyboardist Christopher Tarnow and features two vocalists: one female and one male. I am only familiar with the male singer, Herbie Langhans, who I previously heard on Sinbreed's debut album. He is also by far my favourite singer on this disc. He adopts a vocal style akin to that of Russell Allen circa The Odyssey, delivering the lyrics in a gritty and powerful manner. His subtle German accent lends his singing added depth and character, and his inflection is perfect. At times, he adopts more of an operatic style and he balances the aggression with cleaner tones. Also, this being a concept album, it probably makes it easier to convey the moods intended to portray. The female vocalist Dilenya Mar is awesome. She carefully avoids the pitfalls of being the 'angelic' voice on the disc; rather than singing 'sweet' verses to contrast the heavier sections, she has been given more of a 'free role' on the album. We hear her duelling fiercely with the male vocals, handling soft, whispered spoken passages, and also delivering a gripping tune on the pop ballad "World of Wonders" which concludes with a fantastic electric solo. In terms of songwriting, the 67-minute album is divided into 11 tracks, but because this is a concept album, not each track is actually a song. Much like Virgin Steele's The House of Atreus: Act II, some of the songs last less than two minutes and their purpose is to glue the themes and storyline. Often times, the epic/pivotal pieces are preceded by shorter cuts, like the one-minute piece "The Spring of It All" and the two-minute piece "The Primal Demand." The former is a piano ballad while the latter merely establishes atmosphere before picking up a shredding gtr crescendo that segues into the dark "Doorway to Salvation" underscored by ominous keyboards, corrosive riffing, aggressive male vocals complemented by beautiful female singing, which is eerily reminiscent of something Anneke van Giersbergen would sing during mid-period The Gathering. The instrumentation on the album achieves a staggering effect. Whenever a guitar solo kicks in, you know the keyboard solo is going to be next. Both solos are lightning fast, and they always merge tightly together, implying a sense of compositional cohesiveness. While this may seem predictable, because the unison leads are used sparingly, the effect is glorious. Although the album starts really heavy with the super crunchy "The Call" and riff-centred "The Apparition," it slowly shifts into midtempo territory in order to accommodate the concept. On the heavier songs, the way the guitar work blends with the deft synth elements brings to mind Symphony X's V: The New Mythology Suite crossed with later-day Kamelot thanks to the inclusion of classical themes. However, Beyond The Bridge's music is neither as fast-faced and chock full of double bass drums as that of; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: At the Gates of Sethu; Brand: Nile; Review: Without naming all the overtly long song titles, At the Gate of Sethu sees Nile slightly toning down their complex, labyrinthine songwriting formula in favour of a more straightforward approach (by their own standards, of course). The tracks are filled with frenzied riff mastery; they are blindingly fast and carry a melodic weight to them. Densely churning riffs are interwoven into deranged, schizophrenic solos with haunting harmonies looming over the arrangements. The shorter pieces, thanks to the clever integration of authentic instruments and Egyptian themes, serve as interludes and help deepen the atmospheres intended to create. They are followed by intense, focused riffing and Kollias' seismic, hyperkinetic drum work which is given a larger space in the mix. The songs are marked with blasts of speed and thundering, brutal riffs, some of which are instantly gripping. The opening riff of "Natural Liberation of Fear through the Ritual Deception of Death" is glorious as is the melodically complex lead of "Supreme Humanism of Megalomania," which is, unfortunately, the only track with an 'epic' guitar crescendo. While it is obvious Nile wanted to cut loose on this album, and they've done a great job at it, the album's finest moments are those when they choose to slow things down on the doom-like "Tribunal of the Dead," arguably their heaviest offering here. It boasts 70s Sabbath-like riffs which are deftly hammered into shape by unsettlingly quiet passages and doomsday melodies. The mind-numbing, intricate guitar work is so sharp it could carve diamonds - this is what sets Nile apart from other death metal bands. Not only do they write obsessively focused and blistering riffs and solos, they also know how to incorporate them into the songs' most pivotal moments achieving cohesion rivaled by few others. While I consider this album another strong entry into Nile's never-disappointing discography, I still happen to like their period from Black Seeds of Vengeance through Annihilation of the Wicked the best. The low, guttural vocals, the more organic-sounding dynamically rich arrangements, and the cripplingly heavy riffs and lead passages on their Relapse albums have been missing on Nile's more recent output. The production on this one is similar to that of the previous two releases, but unlike Those Whom the Gods Detest, it seems like the low end could have been more emphasized, as there are moments when the whole mix is dominated by the relentless fury of the guitars and pummelling push of the drums. At times, this results in a claustrophobic soundscape, but given the album's flow and direction it works. The vocals consist of demonic grunts and bellowed, hellish screams that are punctuated by the more guttural, bowel-churning growls for added tension. The two instrumental bonus tracks demonstrate the band's knack for creating complex grooves and interlocking them with precise, stampeding rhythmic motion that might appeal to fans of Meshuggah. As a matter of fact, listening to each band's new disc back to back is a great experience. Finally, Seth Siro Anton's (Soilwork, Septic Flesh, Paradise Lost) is amazing. It definitely captures the dark side of Nile; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Yellow and Green; Brand: Baroness; Review: By now, anyone remotely interested in the music of Baroness must have heard that Yellow & Green is a drastic departure from their dirge-like sludge metal days. Some might miss the throaty, pain-ridden vocals that were underscored by mountainous riffs, but on the other hand, they may also be pleased to find out Baroness places more emphasis on the whole picture here, showing their willingness to craft songs rather than riffs, and achieving melodic flow rather than single-minded aggression. The band is now dabbling with softer sounds, offering melodic constructs and a knack for building atmosphere. Tracks like "Twinkler" and "Eula" will immediately stand out on first listen; they're deliberately slow-paced and informed by detailed sound shapes. The harmonized vocal parts, extended acoustic interludes, and subtly building keyboard themes suggest Baroness have completely shed their earlier influences in favour of a simpler but equally riveting 'rock' sound. While the Red Album and Blue Record had the riffs, this one has the songs. In a sense, the stylistic shift in Baroness' direction and composition could be likened to that of Mastodon after their Blood Mountain album. However, what Mastodon gave us after that disc was the progressive masterwork Crack the Skye, which was not only embraced by a new fan base but also indicated their desire to grow into a tighter force focusing on composition and production. Then, they released The Hunter, which was met with more mixed reviews, though the album was still received well by their core fan base. To me, Yellow & Green marks a similar shift in direction, except that it skips the middle step (Crack the Skye) and directly jumps into a very new sound world. It is this change what some of Baroness' older fans may dislike, especially on first listen. I was personally baffled when I first heard these tunes, but repeat plays proved immensely rewarding. For starters, the production job by John Congleton gives the album its deserved clarity. It does not hide a single note, even during the songs' heaviest and punchiest moments. The chorus of "Take My Bones Away" would have sounded bland and lifeless if it was mixed differently. Here, it carries a melodic weight and purpose to it; one can't help but pay attention. Of course, this is no part to the spectacular song arrangements across the album. Compared to its sister album, Green is less accessible and more experimental. Choruses are eschewed in favour of establishing moody soundscapes and a southern rock-like aura. The touches of synths and piano lend the passages depth. The acoustic guitar playing subtle and almost ghostly. Elements of texture are thrown in the mix during the quieter moments, which heighten the scope of tunes like "The Line Between" given their more direct and in-your-face approach. Perhaps John Baizley's clean vocals are not his best yet. Mind you he has changed from a very aggressive delivery to one where adding the compositions nuance is paramount, and honestly the vocals were never Baroness' strongest aspect even on their earlier releases. Their strength more so lay in crafting; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dark Roots of Earth; Brand: Testament; Review: It's been four years since Testament's comeback album The Formation of Damnation. If you enjoyed that one for whatever reasons, be prepared to be blown away by Dark Roots of Earth. The new album finds the band crafting a sonic thrash metal masterpiece, putting more emphasis on extended melodic guitar solos, intricate arrangements, powerful rhythm work, and excellent vocals. The songs are complex yet very easy to enjoy at the same time because the band has amassed so many immortal melodies this time around. The songs are also more homogenous but varied, involving plenty of complex passages laced with melodic twin guitar harmonies, fiery lead riffs, and stomping rhythmic anchors. Chuck Billy utilizes his full spectrum of vocal talents here. He goes for the clean singing as well as his instantly recognizable throaty delivery that borders on roaring and screaming. The rhythmic tandem on the album is amazing. Gene Hoglan returns to the band after 1997's Demonic and puts in an awesome performance. His drum tone is full and organic. His style is quite different from Paul Bostaph's; he engages in more intricate fills and even adds some twisted blast beats to the mix on songs like "Native Blood" and "True American Hate," two of the album's most aggressive numbers. Hoglan grooves and thrashes with ease, and the addition of blast beats certainly lends the pieces an extra dimension. Greg Christian's bass tone is perhaps just about the best tone he has ever had (thanks to Andy Sneap's meticulous production). The song "A Day in the Death" might be the album's highpoint from a compositional standpoint. It is written around a gritty bass figure that opens the piece and drives it to its ultimate climax, in part due to the vaguely Egyptian-themed solo by Skolnick and thought-provoking lyrics. Guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick are possibly the genre's most powerful duo. Peterson is responsible for churning out his trademark riffs; they are sharp and snappy, and have a lasting impact. There probably is not another rhythm guitarist that shapes the sound of the songs so profoundly. That noted, Peterson also proves he is equally adept at soloing and lays down several lead solos to contrast and complement his partner. Alex Skolnick is one of a kind. Even during the blisteringly fast tempos alternating between Hoglan's dazzling fills and attacks and Peterson's bruising riffing, Skolnick retains his unique style. His arpeggios remain surprisingly musical and articulate, and his soloing sends shivers down the spine. At times, his crystal clean tone and legato riffs carry a Van Halen flavour to them; they are so precise and well integrated into the songs. It is this feat that sets the man apart from just about any guitarist in thrash metal. He is the best. At times, parts of the album sound like a cross between the previous album and The Ritual due to Skonick's unique harmonic minor solos. The inclusion of a seven-plus-minute quasi-ballad, "Cold Embrace," may be a turn-off for some fans in that they may feel it is too long and breaks up the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Atra Mors; Brand: EVOKEN; Review: Since you are reading this page, chances are you did not stumble here by chance: you must have heard of Evoken because you've been a doom metal fan for a while or are just starting to get into this amazing genre. Whichever the case, Atra Mors will not disappoint you. Unlike 2007's A Caress of the Void, which was a solid effort in itself but below Evoken's standards, Atra Mors finds this New Jersey band as a renewed and recharged force. The intensity in their slow-building music is immediately noticeable, and as with their earlier masterpieces, the songs have an underlying presence beneath the more obvious tones of despair and misery. What some may be quick to classify as typical doom-death is actually a studied, painstakingly composed effort embodied by monstrous guitar riffs played at a glacial speed so that they have a more lasting effect and some of the most inhuman low growls you will ever hear. The combination of acoustic guitars and funereal keyboard work form the groundwork for most of their songs, even the heaviest ones. New keyboardist Don Zaros has a knack for crafting the darkest, most unsettling atmospheres, underscoring the lugubrious churn of the guitars at every turn. Rather than merely following the guitars or adding colour, he renders the shapeless riffing all the more intense and chaotic, adding 'vertical' melodies to the songs and giving them a dreamlike quality. Vocals are still mostly conveyed in an aggressive manner: they consist of very deep low growls, but John Paradiso also employs a good deal of spoken lyrics, particularly on the title track which is obviously about the "black death" disease that wiped out the majority of the European population in the 14th century. The whole album is characterized by very slow yet heavy riffing and a tenebrous atmosphere that is unbelievably suffocating. Except for the two brief instrumental pieces, the songs are in no hurry to reach their breaking point and only resolve towards the 10-minute mark, which is where Evoken presents their greatest strength: creating immortal melodies. If you think the ending of the first song was masterful, wait till you hear "Descent into Chaotic Dream." It starts off very slowly with whispered vocals getting buried under a towering synth effect and apocalyptic drum fills. The ending of this song is arguably the finest moment on a doom metal disc I've heard in recent years. Droning guitar arpeggios are set against a monstrous wall of sound, and each melody is so intricately layered and emotionally powerful that it stays with you long after the CD stops. Yet, you keep hearing the song when you're not listening to it and you get this unstoppable desire to go home and crank it out. It becomes dangerously addictive. The other songs are also awesome and each piece is a part of the puzzle. "A Tenebrous Vision" is a two-minute instrumental driven by a weird Thinking Plague-esque piano melody that marries the most bizarre notes and still achieves perfection and manages to create the desired feeling of apathy and gloom.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Epicloud; Brand: Devin Townsend; Review: After releasing four consistent albums under the moniker of Devin Townsend Project, Devin Townsend returns with the aptly titled album Epicloud. The lineup is pretty much the same as the one on Addicted! with the exception of Dave Young supplementing Devin Townsend on guitars. And yes, Anneke van Giersbergen is featured on the album providing vocals. Anyone who has heard the previous four discs would probably agree that Addicted! was the poppiest disc in the bunch. The songs were less complex, more forthright, very bright, and emphasizing Anneke's vocalizations perfectly. In that sense, some might liken it to this new album as it shares some common characteristics. While still on most of the songs, Anneke has a smaller role on the album, but her vocals are some of her best ever, obviously thanks to Devin's amazing production job. The intro of "Grace" recalls her wonderful, unmatched performance on the terribly underrated Souvenirs disc. Her voice is surrounded by epic synths and treated to tons of reverb in the intro. On "Angel," she sounds amazing. This is a song that seamlessly blends major chords with a steady, solid midtempo rock flavour, complete with a brief lead solo and a melancholy feel despite the relatively uptempo pace. That noted, Epicloud is no where near as focused and consistent as Addicted! or any other album Devin Townsend has released recently. While listening to it, you get the sense that he opted for a an epic-sounding disc, utilizing loads of choral vocals, tons of guitar layers washed by myriad synthesizers, a direct rhythm tandem, more choir work, all performed within a more conventional compositional framework. The problem is that the album does not flow as well his prior work; songs do stick out with great melodies and creative ideas, but they are less organically stitched to each other. That said, there is still a lot to find and enjoy in the album when given a close listen, though. The album opener "Effervescent!" boasts an understated 70s musical vibe during the choral parts while "Where We Belong" and "Lessons" recall the softer, acoustic-based cuts on his previous album Ghost. On the acoustic front, you'll also be moved by "Hold On," a song that examines the psychology of two parents whose child is terminally ill. "Save Our Now" is unlike anything Devin has written or sung before. Built around a typical 4/4 drum beat, it feels like a very typical 'radio song' treated to Devin's unique melodic sensibility. On the ballad "Divine," he starts the song with the ambiguous line "Loving you is the best thing and the worst thing in my life," and it's hypnotic. He also increases the tempo on the Lamb of God-like "More!" in terms of riffing (the overall sound is very different, though). This one even features a brief guitar solo. His remake of "Kingdom" from the Physicist album sounds a lot tighter, with some changed lyrics and a more aggressive drive. Devin has always said he was not pleased with Physicist and he'd do it completely differently if he could. I guess; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Distant Satellites; Brand: Anathema; Review: Distant Satellites marks Anathema's tenth studio album, hinting at a gradual shift from its two predecessors, We're Here Because We're Here and Weather Systems. While there's no denying that a great deal of sonic and compositional ideas have found their way into this disc, at the same time, Distant Satellites sports a darker and grittier approach, and much welcome change. While the previous two albums utilized the guitars for beautiful, climactic crescendos, otherwise highlighting the band's symphonic approach and vast, endless sound explorations, the guitar work on this disc seems to be a more central element of their craft. Often, guitars are the vessel that carry the main body of the songs, underscoring the most pivotal moments with a plethora of techniques: the acoustic intro of "Dusk (Dark is Descending)" is so dark and evil-sounding that it reminds me of Opeth's "The Funeral Portrait" while the textured, intensely beautiful "The Lost Song" trilogy sees the Cavanagh brothers building atmosphere and tension in a way only the two of them could master, with the second part hitting its apex due to Lee Douglas' absurdly wonderful singing. Douglas contributes to this album in a much more substantial manner, taking cente-stage on several tracks as well as adding her unique backing vocals, leaving her indelible sonic imprint. If she were to leave or take a break from the the band for whatever reason, it would be impossible to do these songs justice in a live setting, either with male or female vocals. Her soft, breathy voice reaches impossible heights on the piano-driven "Ariel," with distant percussive sound manipulations in the background and climaxes in the finale with the Cavanagh adding his easily identifiable croon. The centrepiece of the disc is perhaps "Anathema," without doubt a risk the band has taken and succeeded in. Before the release of the album, when I saw the tracklisting, I was a bit apprehensive why the band had decided to name a song after themselves, given no song could capture the essence of their wide sound palette and complex musical evolution. The song is perhaps the most guitar-centred tune on this disc, built around a sprawling main melody that permeates its entirety. With a beautiful repetitive chord progression in its second half, the song ploughs through myriad sound textures: a sombre piano theme, lyrics examining the history of the band and detailing their happy, sad, and angry moments but always concluding with the "But I loved you!" scream, and clusters of repetitive guitar chords that eventually engulf and destroy you--the melody is so intense it brings back memories of their finest moments on albums like Alternative 4 and Judgement. The repetition certainly sounds intentional, as it allows the listener to be fully taken over by the song's emotional impact. The progressive rock side of the band is more prominent in the latter half of the disc: with its sampled drum beats and short lyrics delivered in typical Steven Wilson fashion, "You're Not Alone" boasts repeated, rapid-fire lyrics eventually morphing into a drum-and-bass battery, reminding me of listening to a lost; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hindsight; Brand: Anathema; Review: Hindsight is one of the most realized acoustic albums in any genre. As some fans, I, too, was slightly apprehensive when I first heard that Anathema was returning with a semi-acoustic disc where they were going to cover songs from their last set of albums. They had not released any new songs for nearly five years, so I was curious to see how they would reinterpret these songs. Unlike 2011's Falling Deeper, which is the sister album to this, focusing on the band's earlier work and offering songs that are faithfully covered, Hindsight finds Anathema re-working and even re-writing most of these songs to achieve something truly special. The band adds huge symphonic sections and new melodies to some pieces while also changing the song structures a bit. The only other band that experimented with such ideas successfully is Pain of Salvation on their amazing 12:5 album, where they incorporated jazzy passages laced with funk-based, knotty rhythm work and gorgeous piano lines into their craft. The Alternative 4 songs, "Fragile Dreams" and "Inner Silence," as well as "Angelica," the only song representing Eternity, are testament to the band's unmatched creativity, sonic expanse, and melodic songwriting. Even when stripped to the core, the songs stand on their own: their melodic aspect, subtly integrated harmonies, quietly swelling throbs of rhythmic anchoring, and excellent singing make Anathema the unique band they are. I've been listening to and closely following this band since Serenades, which is now considered a rawer sound experiment by most fans (some even claiming the instrumental ability of the band being not quite up to their current standards), and even then, over two decades ago, one can see their knack for creating timeless melodies, unlike hundreds of other doom-death bands from that era. The Cavanagh brothers' most personal statement, "One Last Goodbye" perhaps surpasses the original version. The vocals are more emotive, hit deeper registers, and deliver the sorrowful narrative like never before. The piano theme is so poignant and heart-breaking and emotionally charging that I never miss the amazing guitar crescendo of the original, although I consider it one of their high points in their entire recording career. The songs on this disc are so well crafted that they mostly sound like newly written pieces borrowing the core elements of the original songs, so, while they sound new and fresh on one hand, there is also a great sense of continuity to them. Of course, tracks like "A Natural Disaster" and "Are You There?" are relatively more faithful renditions, but the textured, airy production and the band's new-found sound development lend them their own character. Also, Lee Douglas' singing has improved tenfold. The way her verses weave in and out of the songs is barely noticeable, yet she empties her soul and channels inner despair with much more conviction and intensity. There is also a new song closing the album, "Unchained (Tales of the Unexpected)," which complements the rest of the songs. It consists of only a few chords, beautifully repeated and wrapped around a main melodic theme, and features Cavanagh's; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wisdom of Crowds; Brand: Wisdom Of Crowds; Review: Though Wisdom of Crowds is a collaboration between the frontmen of two Kscope bands, Pineapple Thief's Bruce Soord and Katatonia's Jonas Renkse, the primary, if not sole, writer and arranger of these songs is Soord with Renkse just providing his dark, unique vocals. Most of these songs were written by Soord when he was experimenting with a wide range of ideas that he felt would feel out of place on a Pineapple Thief album, so he decided to get Renkse on board. Soord's songwriting vision on this disc involves exploiting a great deal of industrial and trip-hop elements, which are carefully placed into the compositions. Throughout the album, he uses heavily processed guitars, run through different amps, and vocal effects. Compared to Pineapple Thief, the rhythm development is quite simplistic, consisting of a steady drum beat, underscoring the synth-pop textures utilized in the compositions. Besides the heavier, trip-hop-influenced cuts like "Pleasure," there is the more conventional title track, displaying an emotionally charged guitar solo while "Frozen North" brings forth minimalistic acoustic guitars and centre-stage vocals contradicted by smashing, deeply processed guitar passages that are at once dissonant and unsettling. "Pretend" sounds like a Depeche Mode song with an updated sound and a guitar solo while "Stacked Naked," possibly the least interesting number, is an entirely electronic song structured around a steady drum beat, shards of static, and an insanely catchy chorus. The album's finest offering is "The Centre of Gravity." It sounds like it was written exactly for Renkse; it recalls the guitar layerings and psychedelic soundscapes of Last Fair Deal Gone Down with the vocal style of recent Katatonia material. Of course, the nebulous song structure and complex rhythm configuration is replaced with a more direct drum accompaniment and textured, reverbed guitar sounds. Given Renkse's contribution to the album is limited to just providing and perhaps adding a few vocal melodies, some of the lyrics may sound awkward to the Katatonia fan. On the curiously arranged "The Light," he sings: "I love you more than I thought I might" before the song picks up momentum and builds to a crashing middle section, informed by a heavily processed guitar sound, myriad subterranean noisescapes, and a persistent synth drone. Just as you think Soord's build-build-build-release pattern is going to resolve with a powerful melodic device, a melancholic, clean-toned guitar solo emerges; it is bluesy and expressive, reminiscent of something you'd expect to hear on Little Man perhaps. However, the disco beats at the end keep it from being the highlight of the album it deserves. "Radio Star" proceeds with the same musical formula: industrial sound explorations, tangled cross rhythms, and clusters of guitars are set against Renkse's vocals, which provide gravity and contrast, especially during the mini-chorus. He sings: "I am the sun. I am the moon. I am the day that broke too soon" a capella style. Soord continues his tradition to close albums with long songs. Sadly, though, at over 11 minutes, "Flows through You" seems like it was put together by marrying two separate pieces: the chaotic first half with; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Inheritance; Brand: Dan Swano; Review: Witherscape marks the return of Dan Swano to writing and singing heavier music, utilizing his trademark death growls while also using lots of his amazing clean voice. Having joined forces with multi-instrumentalist Ragnar Widerberg, Dan Swano has released an album that spans his entire career: from his amazing death metal band Edge of Sanity, to his progressive solo album Moontower, to his recent work with Nightingale, and his criminally underrated albums with Unicorn, The Inheritance chronicles Swano's past glories perfectly while bringing forth its own character. Unlike Swano's other previous band Bloodbath, Witherscape captures his sense of melody, much like Edge of Sanity circa Purgatory Afterglow and Crimson as well as his masterpiece Moontower while incorporating Widerberg's far-reaching, eclectic songwriting vision into the mix. Widerberg, with whom I'm not familiar outside this album, rather than trying to replicate the typical death metal riffs from Swano's prior projects, steps forward and does his own thing. I doubt he comes from a death metal background. He infuses the classic heavy metal riffing with the occasional outbursts of syncopation heard in more extreme forms of metal. Technical and perceptive, his guitars besiege the mix, often unexpectedly, but rather than sticking to the same tired riffing methods, they alternate between clean arpeggios, shred-infested lead work, and heavy droning chords without ever building into dissonant grooves. His playing is intense and visceral, but he never forgoes melody for the sake of brutality. His bass work is wonderfully sublime. Avoiding the shapeless, disjointed bass lines, he goes for the rounder, warmer tones, bringing counterpoint to the music, making it sharper and more intricate. On songs like "Mother of the Soul," he inserts textured, riff-based constructs into the sound, but his solos are so direct and immediate, you feel you're listening to a progressive metal solo where the guitarist really cuts it loose. It's far from mindless noodling, though; every melodic lead piece is harmonized with another guitar that sounds wicked, sinister, and sickening, never straying from the dark subject matter of the album. Having written, mixed, and mastered the album, Dan Swano, besides delivering his evil, ravenous death growls and deep clean vocals (which are roughly split on the whole disc), is also responsible for the drumming and keyboard playing. His love of 70s prog is easily noticeable: "Dead for a Day," written entirely by Swano without any input by Widerberg, begins like a Nightingale song circa I before the growls kick in and a suffocatingly dense rhythm workout dominates the arrangement so punishingly it would sit well on the first Hail of Bullets disc. The aggression doesn't overstay its welcome, however. The song concludes with multi-tracked 70s pop harmonies -- truly weird. "Dying for the Sun" boasts a majestic mini Moog solo underscoring Swano's chthonic clean vocals and bestial, hellish growls respectively. Having written the concept story and lyrics, Novembers Doom's Paul Kuhr also makes an appearance here, stamping the verses with his evil death growl. All throughout, the song structure recalls the playfullness of Swano's prior projects like Pan. Thy. Monium and Karaboudjan. The guitar solo; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cobblestone Street; Brand: Mike Tramp; Review: In a sense, it is unfortunate that, no matter what type of music Mike Tramp makes, fans will measure it up against his work with White Lion, whose last studio album with the original members was released in 1991. Even though he released some criminally underrated albums with Freak of Nature as well as several solo discs, his last set of albums started to show a decline in creativity in songwriting. One of the biggest disadvantages was the lack of a truly inspired guitar player, with whom Tramp could write songs, and, when he chose to fill the gap with average players, the outcome was sadly less than satisfying. Enter Cobblestone Street. This is the album Mike Tramp should have released after More to Life Than This, which I still consider his high point in his solo career. Since he was no longer writing with another guitarist like Vito Bratta, rather than trying and failing to "reform" the band in which he'd be the only original member or writing hard-rocking songs with arresting guitar solos, Tramp could have released a semi-acoustic singer-songwriter album. This way, it would have been easier for fans to embrace his new-found style and stop asking for White Lion-quality material. Writing a primarily acoustic album puts the focus on his vocals, which rightfully sound totally different than they did two decades ago. Tramp is no longer in his late-20s; he has matured and grown as an artist. On Cobblestone Street, he writes about his hometown, his childhood, and his dreams. The music is driven by his vocals, with the strummed acoustic guitars supporting, rather than creating, the melodies. The songs don't require solos, though his friend (and producer) Soren Andersen still lays down some electric leads here and there. They're nothing too special but they don't have to be. These are truly personal songs highlighting Tramp's singing and lyrics, with the occasional lead guitars providing depth and colour. As the title track, the songs are among Tramp's most special in his career. "Ain't the Life I Asked for" perhaps documents his life story. Built around a simple acoustic guitar, he channels his heart and soul into the mix when he sings about how he feels "when [his] life falls apart" and how it "could [and] should have been better." The result is goose bumps over goose bumps. I honestly don't understand how any former White Lion fan can dislike this song. This is a much more realized and honest musical statement than the songs on the abysmal Return of the Pride or the stale, direction-less Stand Your Ground. "Angel or Devil" and "Find It in Your Heart" examine his difficult relationship with his wife; they are extremely well crafted. "Once" and "We'll Be Alright" are also slow-paced numbers and proof that he is willing to fight for his relationship and children, who he obviously misses very much. The latter recalls one of his earlier songs, "Darkness" off of Recovering the Wasted Years. Similarly, "What Are You Gonna Do?" sees him describing his life away from his children, all; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Serpent & The Sphere; Brand: Agalloch; Review: Agalloch is one of the few bands who have never released a disappointing album; although there is no general consensus among their fans as to what is their high-water mark, if asked to choose, most of them might pick their first two albums, the Scandinavian folk-inspired atmospheric black metal disc Pale Folklore; and the more daring and experimental The Mantle. I, too, consider these albums the finest Agalloch releases, but everything else, including their EPs, comes pretty close, as they bring forth stylistic and musical changes. The Serpent & the Sphere marks yet another change in the sound and evolution of Agalloch. Strangely, though, while this is quite a departure from the band's earthy, autumn-inspired sound explorations, I found it easier to get into than its predecessor, Marrow of the Spirit, which was more of a lo-fi, colder, and primal release harkening back to their black metal roots while retaining the more atmospheric sounds of their recent output. The arrangements were more protracted, melodies took longer to form and develop, and, therefore, the album didn't take hold and sink in right away. On this album, the songs are more focused with more linear harmonic development, and the melodies are easier to identify, despite the more elaborate sound configuration. Also, there is a more intense rhythmic tension, not only because of the drumming, but because there is a greater sense of space and time between the notes and chord progressions. This allows Jason William Walton to assume a more crucial role in the sound of this disc. He employs sprawling bass lines and spreads them across the whole tonal spectrum. Most of the tracks rely on his low, droney bass figures, sticking to merely a few measures during pivotal sections and enhancing the compositions. The bass on "Dark Matter Gods" is possibly the best bass sound they've mined yet, especially given how it interacts with the other instruments. The bass is beautifully harmonized, surrounded by clean-toned guitar chords, sparse, ethnically influenced drum beats, Haughm's haunting whispers, and ambient, nihilistic moments. Musk Ox guitarist plays three brief instrumental pieces to lend the album cohesion and unity. I've read comments criticizing Agalloch for bringing in an outsider to play these sections rather than handling the passages themselves, which I cannot agree with. For starters, Nathanael Larochette's playing style is very different than both Haughm and Anderson's; his playing is informed with cleaner chord progressions, where his notes shine and sparkle while still adding a welcome neo-folk vibe to the album. Larochette also has a much different sense of sonic development; there is always a subtle urgency in his playing. Secondly, I can't see what's so wrong about getting outside contribution if it actually serves a pupose, and, here, it certainly does. Besides, the acoustic passages, while sticking to a central music thread and an underlying sonic structure, also display nuanced variations on the theme: the bright sound cosmos of the first one is vastly different from the darker and engaging second piece while the album finale, supplemented by ominous keys, is testament to the work; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cover Version; Brand: Steven Wilson; Review: Cover Version assembles all the songs Steven Wilson covered on limited edition releases between 2003 and 2010 while also adding six more new tracks to the mix. I'm a big Steven Wilson fan; I own almost everything he has released from Porcupine Tree to No-Man to Blackfield to Bass Communion to his solo material, but I've never been one to get limited editions, especially if they contained only a few songs or B-sides. Therefore, this disc is more likely to appeal to those who haven't heard these tracks before, be it covers or new tunes. So for me, Cover Version is a winner; not only is it a 'new' disc for me, but it is also an amazing release in that it documents Wilson's far-reaching and eclectic musical tastes as well as growth and evolution as a solo artist. The cover songs are amazing. Steven Wilson has given them all his trademark touch, making them sound like lost tracks from previous sessions. Fans of Blackfield may already be familiar with Alanis Morrissette's "Thank U" since it was covered in their 2007 live album. This version, however, is a lot more powerful. The mid-tempo tune is slowed down to half the speed and delivered in a much more intense manner, matching the spiritual lyrics. Speaking of which, Wilson even changes the lyrics a bit ("How about changing a line cause it don't make sense") but retains the tune's otherwise reflective nature. In The Cure's "A Forest," which has been covered by dozens of artists (including Norwegian black metal band Carpathian Forest), Wilson captures the song's electronic vibe but adds more sonic textures with distinct streams of melody running beneath the whole thing. The result is a darker and creepier soundscape with the second half sounding huge and intense. I would have thought it impossible to do this song justice, given it represents The Cure's definitive moment from their goth rock era, but Wilson has achieved it. Donovan's "Lord of the Reedy River" is twice as long as the original; the sound is developed with a more experimental method in that it weaves looped harmonies deep into the mix, though the folky acoustic guitars and vocals are faithfully re-interpreted. The amazing thing is that the middle section features a bluesy guitar solo, which really elevates it to another level. And the ending is sublime: the densely textured, looming sonic murmurs would not seem out of place on No-Man's Returning Jesus. The traditional English song "The Unquiet Grave" is breathtaking and unforgettable. It starts like a Comus song from 1971: wordless chants form the background for Wilson's vocals, delivered like never before. At one point, his vocals get buried under a slowly rising, Bass Communion-like drone before being brought to the fore again. The lyrics are easily the darkest on this release: they express loss, sorrow, and death, themes Wilson would go on to explore on a larger scale years later, especially on The Raven That Refused to Sing. Actually, this song is another ghost story, a murder ballad in a sense, and examines how; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Theory of Everything; Brand: Ayreon; Review: Rather than strictly focusing on the singers and songwriting on this album, I am going to discuss The Theory of Everything from a slightly different angle. (If you want a quick run-down specifically on the songs on this album, scroll down to the bottom half of the review.) I've been an Ayreon fan for nearly two decades. I still remember the day I received Actual Fantasy in the mail coming from Arjen Lucassen's first record label Transmission Records and then seeking out his first album. The masterpiece, Into the Electric Castle, had not been released yet, so I can say I've been following this project for a very long time witnessing step by step its growth and turning into a household name among prog enthusiasts. To me, The Human Equation was Arjen Lucassen's creative peak; he had assembled just about the most amazing lineup, gotten the very best out of them vocally to the point that we've never again heard James Labrie, Devon Graves, or Mikael Akerfeldt sing the way they did on this disc. Without doubt, Lucassen is one of the best, if not the best, when it comes to bringing out the finest performance in vocalists. On The Human Equation, we were also introduced to new names like Marcela Bovio and Magnus Ekwall while singers like Eric Clayton and Mike Baker managed to convince anyone who was on the fence with their respective bands that they were among the godliest singers in the universe. And I won't even mention my personal favourite on the disc, Devin Townsend. In short, The Human Equation remains Lucassen's most realized work in his career: the storyline, being removed from Arjen's typical sci-fi concept, was a lot more engaging, the melodies he composed were right up there with his finest works, The Final Experiment and Into the Electric Castle, the strings he employed in the mix gave the songs an organic weight, and the production was stunning, possibly his best ever. I'm probably in the minority when it comes to rating Ayreon's previous release, 01011001, in the lower half of his discography. By the time this album was released, Ayreon had become so big that everyone listening to progressive music had a comment to make on Lucassen's music or a singer to recommend him. I even remember, at one point, Lucassen asked his fans to no longer send him demo tapes or artist recommendations because he had already compiled a list of over 200 singers he'd at some point like to work with. Still, before 01011001, the pressure was so big on him that not a single day went by when he didn't hear about working with Daniel Gildenlow, Tom Englund, or Jorn Lande, three of my all-time favourites in the genre. People kept posting about their dream vocalists on and on, it almost felt like Arjen Lucassen *had to* get these vocalists to sing on the new album, but there was a problem. He employed more singers than ever; even during the period when I was following the process I had started to get; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bled White; Brand: Novembers Doom; Review: Whether you like them or not, Novembers Doom are one of the most consistent metal bands coming out of the USA. The beautifully titled Bled White marks their 25th year; they have consistently released album after album, rarely deviating from their core sound. Of course, they started out as a typical death metal act before finding their niche and releasing several doom-laden melodic death metal discs, of which The Knowing and The Pale Haunt Departure still remain personal favourites. Over the years, however, Novembers Doom's music shifted towards a more direct style, dropping their doomy influences in favour of a more focused, mid-tempo death metal sound, particularly as vocalist Paul Kuhr improved his clean vocals dramatically. While the previous album Aphotic was more varied stylistically, utilizing vocals by both Anneke van Giersbergen and long-time producer/mixer Dan Swano, Bled White finds the Chicago band taking yet another step towards a more vocal-based sound. There is significant emphasis placed on Kuhr's vocal lines: besides his unique, powerful death growls, he now makes the shift to clean passages more confidently. The result is "Just Breathe," possibly their finest all-clean-vocals piece ever. It mixes gently strummed acoustic guitars with their classic, brooding tones and Kuhr's most expressive, melodically arresting singing to date. As the guitars and drums gain momentum halfway through, a melancholic piano theme introduces itself behind the central instruments evoking Blackwater Park. The band even utilize a Steven Wilson-like narcotic vocal part at the end of the song, and it fits perfectly. Another great thing about Novembers Doom is that fans always know what they can expect from the band. While there will be small changes in dynamics and songwriting, the compositional core of their music is always unaffected. Songs feature Kuhr's unmistakeable growls alternating with his clean singing, most evident on "Heartfelt," perhaps the album's most representative track. It is characterized by a tempestuous guitar work interwoven with complex rhythms and brutal, punishing death growls which are swiftly replaced by a gripping, dare I say 'catchy', clean-sung chorus. "Clear" is Katatonia-like in its flow, with pronounced drum beats and an Opethian guitar solo that would fit their Damnation album. This is one of the finest guitar tones they have yet achieved, and kudos go to both the guitarists and Dan Swano, who mixed the album giving it the sonic touch it deserves. "The Grand Circle" features My Dying Bride-styled vocals (think The Dreadful Hours); Kuhr has never gone for such a theatrical delivery before, portraying different moods without having to rely on his death growls, but melodically and harmonically this song is classic Novembers Doom. "Animus" sees them testing more progressive waters, merging creepy keyboards, distinct meter changes, and face-ripping harsh vocals. I really enjoy the brief instrumental "Scorpius" as well as the bleak "The Memory Room," which strangely reminds me of Woods of Ypres; actually it feels like the band is paying homage to the band. They should use more of these dark acoustic guitars, not just as intros but also in the more tension-filled passages. Again, Vito Marchese's melodic guitar solo; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: From The Silence; Brand: Iluvatar; Review: Iluvatar are an American progressive rock band deeply influenced by British prog giants such as Genesis, Marillion, Pendragon, and IQ. Their 1995 release Children is perhaps still my favourite from this band, not only because it was the first disc I heard by them but also because it contains some of their strongest musical ideas. That said, every release they've put out has been consistent and offered a great example of progressive music. From the Silence is their long-awaited album and their first disc since 1999's A Story Two Days Wide. Although the previous album was released 15 years ago, the songs presented on this album do not demonstrate a significant change in style or form. They are solid examples of neo-prog, highlighted by melodic keyboards (lots of Mellotron and Mini Moog sounds here) underscoring the compositions. The interplay between the instruments is still as elaborate as before, punctuated by complex arrangements and early Genesis-like movements. Some of these songs were actually released about 10 years ago as a rare three-song demo. They have all been re-arrangend and re-recorded, though. Of these three pieces, "Revolution" and "Favorite Son" follow the band's classic sound, with nods to Wind & Wuthering-era Genesis right down to the Peter Gabriel-style of vocals crossed with Marillion's Fish. However, the third piece "Le Ungaire Moo-Moo" finds the band venturing into darker, more experimental realms, evoking King Crimson's most complex work. The song deploys plenty of dissonant chords, atmospheric passages, nifty drum parts, powerful bass lines, and interesting meter changes. It's certainly one of their more daring compositions. In short, From the Silence is a varied album with great ideas and instrumentation. Fans of Iluvatar will not be disappointed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In Search of Truth; Brand: Evergrey; Review: In Search of Truth is not only Evergrey's high-water mark compositionally and technically but it is also a benchmark for the genre. Here, the band's aggressive riffing on their previous album, Solitude Dominance Tragedy, is fully perfected while pushing the songs into more progressive metal territory. Englund's vocals are possibly his best ever, with moving lyrics and hooks. The keyboards have never achieved the same level of perfection on any of their albums again. Though he may not have been a core member of the band, Sven Karlsson's work on this disc remains unmatched. His keyboard tones creep into the mix secretly and underpin the guitars, peeking through the cracks and enveloping all the songs. Drummer Patrick Carlsson, on the other hand, is the main reason why these songs are so complex and engaging. Unlike the last couple of Evergrey albums where the drums just add rudimentary rhythms to the pieces, Carlsson actually *defines* them, with manic velocity and unexpected drum fills. Rather than following the guitars and bass, his drumming pushes the boundaries and paves the way for Englund and Danhage. The guitar tandem is amazing. There is great melodic depth in the compositions, which basically ripped apart the band's prior songwriting formula and replaced it with the unique Evergrey blueprint. Though melodically rich, the guitars also thrust metal into entirely new realms, giving off an antiseptic yet very organic atmosphere. "The Masterplan," at less than five minutes, opens the album powerfully, setting the tone and introducing the concept, which is about alien abduction when taken literally, but I like to interpret the story line as a metaphor for paranoia, self-deceit, and a sense of abandonment. This might have been the greatest album opener on an Evergrey album had it not been for "Solitude Within," the first song on Solitude Dominance Tragedy. "Rulers of the Mind" and "Watching the Skies" hint at the band's more progressive stylings, mustering viable, memorable melodies and bringing forth intensely busy drumming with a punchy, super-charged guitar tone. Englund's desperation translates to his vocals like never before or after, yet he maintains the hooks and mini-choruses expertly. The experiment peaks on "Mark of the Triangle," easily their progressive metal highpoint, ushering in devastasting brands of technicality without losing focus on melodic signatures and easy-to-relate lyrics. Transitions between individual parts are rapid and unpredictable, but the compositional flair is never sacrificed or compromised in favour of speed-of-light playing or scorching vocal acrobatics. "Different Worlds" pulls at the heart strings, with beautiful muffled micro sounds depicting the character's desperation and Englund's inimitable vocalizations. It's perhaps my favourite Evergrey ballad alongside "Words Mean Nothing." Unfortunately, I haven't been able to relate to any of their songs in the same way after Recreation Day. The year 2001 was perhaps the best year for Evergrey's then label Inside Out. They released Ark's Burn the Sun, Devin Townsend's Terria, and Evergrey's In Search of Truth all in the same year and they're all masterpieces in progressive metal and absolutely essential to fans of the genre.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_CDs_and_Vinyl |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel DVR Mansion; City: Kurnool Kurnool District Andhra Pradesh; Review: I visited and stayed at this hotel on 4-6 September 2015. The hotel Staff are friendly and supportive. The Rooms were clean and well maintained. As we were travelling we could not eat the lunch or dinner on both days. So no comments. Wifi was present, but we did not avail the service. Breakfast was excellent and tasty. Would love to come back and stay at this hotel in future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dream Catcher Plantation Resort; City: Munnar Idukki District Kerala; Review: This is an awesome place to stay far away from the hustle bustle of the city. It is 20km away from munnar. I was aware of the fact it takes an hour to reach from munnar town, yet decided to choose this place. Because of really good travel reviews. Pros: it's a very nicely located property, well maintained and good supportive staff. The tree houses are nice and comfortable to stay. Offers good scenic views of the valley or the tea plantations depending on the choice of room offered. 2. Enjoyed the camp fire and the tea plantations with orange trees. 3. The staff clearly notified us that it takes 45 mins for them to prepare food and it would help them serve the customers better. Areas of improvement. I would only advise the lighting towards the campfire be improved a little as the steps sometimes cannot be seen. (Travellers can be given torch). I didn't have one for myself. Sign boards towards the property can be increased and made more frequent as it gets difficult to locate. For travellers. As my driver was the first time coming to munnar. Both of us had tough time locating this property. Following google maps actually made us losing directions entirely. Check with locals who have better knowledge of the place than google maps. Management can add more boards towards the property. Final say: for relaxing stay and good time with family a nice place to stay and enjoy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Elephant Court; City: Thekkady Idukki District Kerala; Review: This indeed was a nice resort to stay and relax. Unfortunately due to time constraints at our end we didn't time to spend at this luxurious resort. When we came they greeted us with traditional kerala style. The rooms were really huge and clean. Yeah they auto upgraded our room to cottage room aylt no additional cost. As we were checking out early at 6.30 the team offered us to give us packed break fast enroute. However at 6.45 the breakfast was ready which had wide variety of it. As we had little time we ate little and enjoyed it. And the team gave us some awesome muffins enroute to enjoy. I wish i could stay there longer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OYO 9992 Panoramic Sea Resort; City: Alappuzha Alappuzha District Kerala; Review: I had stayed here from 17-19th December. The basic amenities are lacking at this resort. To begin with a water bottle is not provided. The approach road is dug up and the with rains you arrive in the room with all the dirt. Although if you wash the feet, the drive way is also is filled with dirt. The person who entered to show the room soiled the entire toilet with his sandals and he didnt not bother to clean it. After using the the flush of the toilet was not working. Had to call the front office and get it fixed. The towels were dirty and we didnt feel like using the them. The bathroom curtains were filled with mildew/fungus.The curtains cannot be drawn completely compromises ones privacy. The breakfast menu was good, albeit on both days the uttapam and the appam batter was really over fermented. The coconut chutney was watery, despite kerala chutney at other places are really thick. Hence we never tried the other services at this restaurant. The swimming pool was closed for renovation. Overall we would not recommend this resort to anyone.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ecce Roma Suites; City: Rome Lazio; Review: The room is at a walking distance from the rome termini and the airport shuttles stops very close by too making the property accessible on foot. Despite having heavy luggages it was easier to find the property as emails from the team had been sent to inform how to locate the property. The rooms were spacious and the reception folks were extremely courteous making the stay in Rome pleasant and fun filled. The positive experience is when tourists are informed the way around the city and how the famous landmarks which could be reached on foot or via metro. It helps to reduce the time for searching things on google again. When we had got dinner from outside the lady helped us to with location of the dinner plates which also showcases the attitude towards the customers. A long lasting experience to come back to the place again requires not only the good property but the friendly staff too. As the staff helps in making the stay pleasant. Would love to come back and stay again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope; Author: Don & Susie Van Ryn; Review: I read this book in two days because the story is so intriguing to me. It was well written and tells a very real-life version of this incident.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fly Away: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristin Hannah Page; Review: I love Kristen Hannah but was disappointed by this follow up to Firefly Lane, my all time favorite. the story seems to jump around and often repeat itself while attempting to show the perspective of the other characters. I almost quit reading in the middle but the last 3-4 chapters were worth the read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Barefoot: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Elin Hilderbrand Page; Review: Barefoot is a story of two sisters and a best friend that is real, honest and engaging. The trials they face in their lives are real so any reader can relate. Awesome read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Beach Club: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Elin Hilderbrand Page; Review: while I love all of Elin Hilderbrand's books, The Beach Club may be one of my favorites. As always, there is love, humor, sadness and an awesome story of real people.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nightingale: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristin Hannah Page; Review: I love all of Kristen Hannah's books but could not get into this one. I have only read half and likely won't pick it up again. I also don't care for books set in history so that could be the issue I had with this story.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Jailbirds; Brand: Visit Amazon's Samantha Steele Page; Review: This book picks up where Teenagers left off. The first book was written from Sam's perspective, this one is from Zac's. After being forced to kill another person to save someone he cared for, Zac is put on trial. While in prison surprising things begin to happen, which leads him to find his destiny. Gods,Ghosts,the Palace,the Core,who will prevail. I found this book to be more fun to read than the first one. It captured my attention and kept me turning the pages. I want to know more, so I will be looking for the next book in the series.Jailbirds: The Second Alaska Teen Novel (The Alaska Teen Series); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shelter from Thunder - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Michael Cargill Page; Review: The air raid siren. The bomb shelter. The gas mask given out at school-you were supposed to carry it everywhere you went. Crawling under the desk-like that would save you. The Nazi's. Hitler. "That's. the sound of British might right there. You'll see, we will beat the Germans back. Just like last time," his father said. When the new kid came to school, Sam finally had a friend. They spent all their time together. When his friend passed out at school and was taken away, it was only a matter of days until he slipped into a coma and died. As Sam and his parents sit in the shelter during the Blitzkreig watching dust rain down through the crack in the ceiling, they can only wonder if they will still be alive when it's over. I read this as soon as I received it because it was a short story and I was in between books. I thought it was really good and I never saw the ending coming. That's always nice. I'll keep my eyes open for more of Michael Cargill's books. I got the link for this book from caedyslibrary.blogspot.com Shelter from Thunder; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zed (Zed Trilogy) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Stephen Herfst Page; Review: Zed is cursed by thought, making him different from all the other zombies. He doesn't like Activists. He does like TV and books, which is how he has educated himself. One day as he was quietly reading, he heard a commotion. He finds a girl running from a zombie, and the zombie has a pair of GI boots. He already has a helmet, now he wants those boots. After he finishes off the zombie he goes for the girl. For some strange reason he doesn't kill her. He tries to act like a real zombie so the girl will go away and leave him alone. Instead she laughs at him. It wasn't bad enough that he lost his taste for brains, now he chooses to let the girl live. She comes into his lair and makes herself at home. He's puzzled by his feelings of annoyance. She starts a fire and promptly falls asleep. After she burns down his lair, she promises to make it up to him. But when she gets caught, he knows it's him that has to save her. The cover is great. Loved it. Different kind of zombie book. I thought of Zed as being more human than zombie. It was funny hearing his thoughts as they go through the mall (maul). When he describes smiling, it made me smile. As he talks about the taste of caramelized pork loin and how delicious he thought it was, and so much different than brains, it made me think of a child tasting it for the first time. When he was driving the car, I was cracking up. The book is like looking through the eyes of a child as they learn all the simple and wondrous things we take for granted. I laughed all the way through it. Zed (Zed Trilogy); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Take Five: Mystery Short Stories - Kindle edition; Brand: Rene Pawlish; Review: Five short stories: Seven for Suicide: Detective Sarah Spillman was called out for an apparent suicide. When she saw the party invitation, she knew it wasn't your run-of-the-mill suicide. Seven people came to the party, but they were only supposed to act out their suicide, not actually do it. But was it suicide or did someone use the opportunity to commit murder? Elvis and the Sports Card Cheat: Reed Ferguson, owner the Reed Ferguson Detective Agency, was sitting at his desk when in walked Elvis, who was actually Perry Rawlings, an Elvis Impersonator. Perry's 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle baseball card had been stolen. It was one of the most collectible post-war baseball cards and worth around ten thousand dollars. After checking into it, I told Perry I didn't think I could help him and returned his check. A week later he called saying the card was back in the safe. He didn't have any idea how it got there. Why would someone steal the card and then put it back? Saturday Night Special: Another Sarah Spillman story, so you know it's going to be good. Just before she was called out on the fourth death of a prostitute, she talked to Kurt, an old boyfriend that just came to town. She thought he wanted to get together for old-times sake, but he really wanted to get back together. After Sarah returned to work, she received a second "prank" call. She had ignored the first thinking that it was just a prank call. It was the killer and she recognized his voice, just couldn't place it. Nerds Revenge: Freddie and I did not get along at all. He was the one that got things done, so I knew it would be my job on the line if I complained. He constantly tormented me. I'd had enough. Now it was time to plan my revenge and get rid of him once and for all. Dance of the Macabre: Sarah Spillman was on a much needed vacation with Harry when they came across a body. Something about it didn't look right. Renee Pawlish has some of the best endings to her books I have ever read. They are almost always a surprise and totally unexpected. These short stories were suspenseful and easy to read. Great for catching one on your break from work or just sitting around when you only have a sort period of time. Look for more of her work, it will be worth your while. Take Five; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tribes (ThreeCon) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Carmen Webster Buxton Page; Review: HOB had escaped from Andre, but the desert was so brutal that he was not sure if he was any better off than he had been back at Agra doing his slave duties. He heard something in the distance and as it came closer he realized it was a skimmer. He ran to hide before it reached him and thought he was safe until it turned around. A woman got out. He fought with her, thinking he could escape in her skimmer but he was no match for her. She was an Han-Lin and he thought he was a slave again. When she used her laser to remove his manacle, he began to believe she was trying to help him. Jahnsi was on the way to visit her father. He didn't believe in slavery, so she thought he would help her help him. Luanne Mingo was a finder. She was in Agra to find a man who had been missing for 23 years. His parents had been assassinated during a revolution. The rebels almost wiped out the oligarchy, but one survivor and his pregnant wife had escaped. The assassins had no qualms about killing the parents, but they took the baby to keep it safe and left it in its basket outside a market. They thought someone would take it and raise it. They lied to their master and told him the baby was dead. Luanne ran into Dr. Forest Shekarian. He explained about Mariposa; how it became a prison colony when the government on Terra offered the colonists a deal, emigrate and they wouldn't go to prison. He explained about tribes, that they are the only law. If you weren't a member of a tribe, you had no rights. Eventually the tribes became either all male or all female. Forest was appalled as Luanne told him the story. He told her that the baby would end up a slave, whoever found him would own him. Some slaves would end up in a household, some would be used for cheap labor and others would end up prostitutes. He was against slavery, so they teamed up to find out what had happened to the baby. As Luanned and Forest investigate, they find out about a slave called HOB. When they asked how the baby got its name, they were told probably from the mother. A blanket was found with him and HOB had been embroidered on the blanket that was in the basket and the basket had been very nice. HOB quickly found he was enamored by Jahnsi, but he couldn't figure out if she liked him the same way or if she was just pretending as a way to keep him from leaving because she felt responsible for his safety. Luanne and Forest were in a desperate race to find HOB before his owner, Andre, caught up with him. This was a fun and easy read, which is what I expected from Carmen. This is different from her other book I read, Where Magic Rules, but every bit as entertaining. I always; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Class Apart (Class Heroes Book 1) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Stephen Henning Page; Review: Samantha woke up in a hospital room, and because her phone never left her side, she was reading an article on the 24/7 Interactive website about a terrorist bombing of a school bus and the press was speculating that the twins might have been the target. Samantha and James were the only twins on the bus, so they must be talking about them, but why would anyone want to harm them? They were just ordinary teenagers. As she scrolled down the page, she saw another article about a teenage boy who had "fallen" out of a 36th-story window at the hospital she was in, Brent Valley General. James had told her he was going to the 36th floor and the thought went through her mind, could it be him? Lolly had videotaped the explosion and sent it to her Daddy. When she went to the hospital to check out Samantha, she took a gadget out of her pocket, made a small cut in Samantha's arm and rubbed a slide through the blood. When she ran the slide through the gadget and it came up Analysis complete, she saw the range was 60-80%. Her brother, James had tested the same. Her Daddy was right. Before she left, she installed Spyware on Samantha's phone, just as she had done to James's. As Sam watched the news on her phone, she saw a photo that showed everyone, even the dead, being pulled from the burning bus. The press emphasized the fact that it was all done in nine minutes. She remembered the feeling she'd had of being carefully taken from the bus and a hand brushing the hair from her face. Who was the mystery man that had saved so many lives. While Samantha was staring at the window in her hospital door, she saw several patients wrapped in bandages walk by, but couldn't tell if any were her friends. As she watched, one of them stopped and put her hand on the window. Samantha's running trophy, flowers and cards went flying off the window sill. How had that happened? Chief Superintendent Alan Hardy was keeping a tight grip on the information being released from the investigation and had very firmly laid down the law to the press urging them to use restraint and to stay away from the injured kids in the hospital. Why were they being so secretive? Jasmin, from 24/7 Interactive news was determined to find out, so she staged spilling her coffee on her blouse during the press conference to gain access to the Mobile Command Center. She distracted the PC inside by removing her blouse, talking all the time, and pretended to remove her bra. She said she would be quick and went into the Chief's office, took off her bra and donned her clean blouse. She took the opportunity to hide a recorder. When she would retrieved it later after the Chief had left the scene she realized she had found her story. Samantha and James had always had a special connection, which they didn't think was odd because; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reel Horror - Kindle edition; Brand: Ernie Garrett; Review: Rich and his friends had went to a screening of Vicious Vengeance and, as usual, he found it lame and stupid. He only watched Zombie movies because his girlfriend liked them. As they left, he saw the Usher that had been passing out feedback cards and mints. Rich told his friends to go on and he would be right there. The Usher and Rich argued until they finally agreed on a solution. The Usher would send Rich free tickets, but what kind of movie did Rich like? When he said, not dumb ones but ones he could care about, the Usher said, "oh ones you can get involved in"? I guess we can all see where this is going, right? When Rich receives the free passes, they were for Teen Eating Zombie Machine. They had seen the trailer the last time they were at the movies. Even though he didn't like Zombie movies, he figured, it's free so lets go. His friend, Shane, had entered the movie theater and sat down in the middle rows. It was a compromise because he liked the back and Rich liked the front. He had Rich's jacket and phone that Rich had given him before he went to park the car and was fiddling with it, but Rich had it pin-locked. All of a sudden, he heard the name Rich coming from the screen and looked up to see Rich on the screen. What? Shane realized he was locked in the theater and would have to help Rich survive and escape from the movie. Sandra called Rich's phone and Shane answered. Shane explained to Sandra what was going on and she came to the theater to help. On screen, Rich heard a phone ring and answered it. He was stunned, then relieved that it was Sandra and Shane. As Rich scrambles to stay alive, Sandra and Shane help him keep from being eaten by Zombies or run through the Zombie Machine. A light, fun, easy read about a boy who didn't even like Zombie movies, but gets caught inside of one and has to act his way out. I read it in one sitting. A really great sarcastic spin on Zombies. My first thought was maybe teenagers with a smart mouth and know it all attitude do get their comeuppance. It was bloody and gory, but more often than not, I found myself laughing at the whole situation. Just think, what would you do if you were sitting in the movie theater and your friend was up on the screen? How seriously would you take it? What lengths would you go to help him? I liked the cover and the name, both fit right in with the story. The characters were well developed, so much so, that I'm not sure if I liked them or not. Reel Horror; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black - Canto I of The Nephilim Codex eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Charles Colyott Page; Review: The old priest arose to do his duty to the Great Mother. He would not neglect her. The villagers demanded a sacrifice. No matter how much he tried to teach them of The Great Mother's love, they would not give up their barbaric practices. When he reached the temple, he thought vandals had desecrated it, only to find it was worse than that - a sacrifice, it was his granddaughter. The Mother anointed him with his granddaughters ashes and told him it was time and proceeded to destroy the temple. When he awoke, it was to find the villagers gone, only blood left behind. It was a new day, a prophet was born he thought as he walked away from the village. Tommy's girlfriend had dumped him and hooked up with Eric, a ghoul with ragged hair, greasy skin and clothes that looked like they were from Goodwill. Tommy and Eric had a couple of run-ins, but Tommy told him he really didn't want Alyson back so he didn't need to be jealous. Eric wouldn't let it go. Tommy and his friends went to the movies and when they came out, Eric and some skin head friends of his were waiting for them. As Bruce and Tommy managed to overpower the skinheads, Eric just stood and watched. When he heard the police sirens coming, he took off. Tommy had taken the brunt of the fight. He had grabbed the knife being held on Coda with his bare hand. As the doctor was stitching it up, Coda had come in asked why he would do something like that for someone he didn't even know. His response had been, there wasn't anything else he could do. Tommy told Coda about his grandfather, a Taoist monk, who taught him martial arts and how he taught Bruce and some others and she was more than welcome to join them. Alyson came to Tommy after Eric had given her a box to keep for him. She had opened it and what she had seen inside frightened her. She told them about Eric's dark side and how he was into magic. She thought the book was a grimoire and it gave her the creeps. Tommy thought they should go see an old friend of theirs, Mike Ferguson, who might be able to help them figure out what the book was all about. They warned him not to let Eric find out he had it. When Tommy and Alyson went back to Mike to see what he found out, Mike had a crazy look on his face. Mike was asking Alyson if Eric had any odd cuts or wounds, when they heard pounding at the doors. They exploded inward. The group was around the table which was surrounded by a blue line, a ward of protection. Eric appeared looking like a monster, with shapes carved all over his face, even his teeth. He broke through the barrier and grabbed Mike demanding the book. When Eric grabbed Tommy, it was all he could do to remain conscious until something hit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Half Black Soul (The Alexa Montgomery Series Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's H. D. Gordon Page; Review: Just a month ago, I'd been a pretty normal teenager. I was seventeen and I lived in a small town in Missouri. Now I am a killing machine, a warrior or a murderer. Or both. Happy birthday to me. Spoiler Alert: This is Book II in the Alexa Montgomery Saga. I was driving through Pennsylvania, in the rain, when hunger hit me. I just happened to be at an exit, so I took it and went into the diner at the convenience store. After eating, as I walked to my car, I should have paid more attention to my senses. I knew I never should have left my sword in the car. It wouldn't happen again. I knew he was there and I knew he was going to attack me. It would be the last thing he did. I let the monster deal with the man and felt a euphoria as he lay dying. As I drove away I thought about how I came to be here. I knew I was different, but a Sun Warrior? The Last One? My mother had taught me how to fight and told me to protect Nelly. Nelly wasn't just a Searcher, but so much more. After the attack at the house, Nelly and Jackson, who was a werewolf and my boyfriend, and I ran to Two Rivers in Pine Barrens, NJ. It was magnificent until you saw underneath it. When I met Soraya, she exposed the truth Libra the Scales Balanceto me and I vowed to change it. But one good thing had come of it. I met Kayden, the only Libra left. Like me, the last of his kind. Would we end up together? The first thing on my agenda was to find out if my mother was still alive. After the incident at the convenience store, I stopped at a rest area to regroup. The monster was in total control of me. I was horrified. I jumped out of the car and ran. I ran for the exit and as normal feelings started to come back to me, I felt hope. I ran straight into Kayden. I felt his goodness wash over me. My desperation led me to go one step further, a kiss so deep the monster was driven away. I turned to the car and waited for him to enter. I was going to Olivia's', my mother's friend who had sent us to Two Rivers, to find out about my mother, and anything else I could. She told me I was meant to lead a revolution. I had to go to Dangeon to find my mother. Nelly was bereft when she read the note Alexa left for her. Nelly's mind sent out a blanket search, seeming of its own free will. She could sense a feeling of fear from everyone in the village. She was called before the Queen and asked about Alexa being missing. Nelly fed the her the lie she had been working on, only to be assaulted by the Queen's attempt to search her. She could block her,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Beach - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jaye Frances Page; Review: Alan loved the beach (his beach), but when summer came, the tourists came with it. He thought the beach belonged to him and hated having to share it. As he walked, he turned to look back at his bungalow. He had worked hard to be able to buy this slice of Heaven. He preferred his own company and talked to the ocean as if it was a trusted friend. He had reached the granite rock outcrop, which continually amazed him. He would walk the beach until he reached the rock, then look over his domain. A storm was approaching and he didn't have time to make it back to the bungalow, so he hid behind his the rock, seeking protection from the wind. When the water swirled around his feet, something bumped his leg. He held the object and asked the air around him, "How much longer is this going to last?", and the storm abated. He thought nothing of it. As he examined the object, he thought it was a prism, because of the beautiful lights reflecting from it. He couldn't see how to open it, so he grabbed a hammer and nail and struck it. He was stunned with the result. A man spoke from behind him. He dropped the "bottle" and turned. Alan's adventure began. 4 STARS - Would Highly Recommend To Others The moral of the story, be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. I was first drawn to the book because of the gorgeous cover. I love the beach, sand and water, so I will stop and browse whenever I see a cover with them on it. The writing makes this an easy read, with the story flowing smoothly as the plot unravels. I felt for the guy, because I love the beach and hate sharing it too. But, who died and made him God? The ending was so creepy, it sent chills running up and down my spine and the hairs on the back of my neck tingling, but I smiled too. lol When you read it, you will know, that in itself could be considered creepy. Could you imagine wading on the oceans edge and looking down, only to see............... There is a bonus novella at the end of the book. What price are you willing to pay, in exchange for having all your heart desires right now? I received this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. The Beach; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Way Out Of Here - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Adam Light Page; Review: I had won fifty million dollars in the lottery. I bought everything I wanted. I went everywhere I wanted. But, something was missing. One night, unable to sleep, I got out of bed , trying not to rouse the whole house. I nodded off on the couch and woke up to someone calling my name. "Nolan!" No one is here but me. Am I hearing things? Dreaming? I laughed as Adam described the actions the voice took to make him do as it said. I was over the toilet, trying to pee, when my shirt moved. The voice was coming from my navel. You heard me, my navel! "My name is Gordon Delanolan and I live in your navel." As we talked, it told me it knew what I needed. As I felt sorry for myself, the voice said, "Nolan, don't go all pussy on me now.........I'll shove a tampon up your a** if you don't stop it right now, you hear me." 5 STARS - Would Buy It For Them (lol) I love the cover and the title is appropriate. The font is excellent, giving a foreshadow of things to come. This is a short story that grabbed me in its clutches and took me somewhere I wouldn't have thought of going. All I could do is hang on for the ride. The writing is excellent. The story is told with wit and humor. What happens is pretty creepy and I couldn't help but laugh out loud as I tried to picture the events as they unfolded. Shades of Twilight zone, but more sophisticated and creepier. A twist, another twist and a killer ending. Books like these make me wonder where the ideas come from? What warped and twisted mind could create such a situation? LOL Ask Adam Light and his brother, Evan Light. And they have more for you to be creeped out by, so be sure to check out the author links below. I picked up this book on a free day from Amazon. Thank you Adam Light. Way Out Of Here; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Whatever Possessed You? - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Evans Light Page; Review: . Gerard Faust was a writer. The writing gods had looked down on him and he got a super, fantastic publishing deal. Now, a writer's curse. Yep. You guessed it. Writer's block. The deadline was looming. Two weeks. Maybe a trip to the bookstore would help. It did tend to inspire him. As he approached the store, an unkempt and ravaged looking man confronted him. Was he about to get mugged, or worse? Instead, the man pulled out a piece of paper insisting he read it out loud. "Words and music are inseparable." We were face to face. His breath was my breath. Gerard felt it going deeper and deeper. His dreams were telling him he would write the best book every written. His urge to write overwhelmed him, taking over every aspect of his life. "I will finish my book and it will change the world." In his wildest dreams, or should I say nightmares, he never could have forseen what would happen. 4 STARS - Would Highlyly Recommend To Others I love the cover. A bit creepy. Look deeply into the eyes. Can you see it? Do you feel it? I'm sitting here. Thinking. How am I going to describe the book to you? I always try to figure out what will happen before it happens. I thought I knew where it was going. It seems that was Evans' plan all along. I took the right fork and he took the wrong, I mean left. I would think - OK, I get it. Oops, thought it was going here, but whoa, it went way over there. His twists and turns are like S curves, highly dangerous. Be careful, be very careful, when you open the pages of this book. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. If it seems to good to be true, it is. Cliches, but so appropriate. Evans writing is easy to read and flows smoothly. The book is a quick read, but the topic is heavy. Sometimes the worst demon, is the one within. I love it when I don't know the ending until I get there. And this ending is unforeseen by me. Thanks Evans. I am not that surprised very often. I picked this book up on a free Amazon day. Thank you Evans Light. I will keep my eyes on you. LOL; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Human No Longer (Vampire Blood Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kathryn Meyer Griffith Page; Review: A unique and twisted tale of a vampire mother, who has children to protect. Just looking at the cover, Jenny appears locked and loaded. I wouldn't want to take her on, would you? Jenny was a wife, a mother and a writer. She had put her writing on hold while she helped her husband start his business. Once they could afford a secretary, she went back to her writing. One of the books was about a gang of vampires whose home base was a renovated theater. Now she was a part of the story. She had to learn to live with her handicap, otherwise she would be sucking the blood from her own loved ones. She was so soft-hearted she found it difficult to kill an animal. She had to eat and it was better than the alternative. How was she supposed to survive and keep her secret? 5 STARS - Would Buy It For Them (lol) I am so ticked off. I misplaced my notes and had all this great stuff I was going to tell you. I will do my best to remember, lol, all the things I wanted to say. This was a unique twist on a familiar tale. A mother vampire can be vicious as she struggles to protect her family, not just from others, but from herself. I loved it. Kathryn Meyer Griffith's writing flows so smoothly I was carried through the pages and felt as if I was walking in Jenny's shoes, not wanting to put the book down. The plot was so unique, I wasn't sure how Kathryn was going to tell the tale. It's nice to know not all vampires are so cold and blood thirty that they cannot control themselves, ripping, tearing, killing and slaughtering with no thought or remorse. My heart went out to Jenny as she struggled to adjust and make ends meet. She still missed her husband, who had died in the attack that made her who she is now. Now she was alone AND a vampire. Would she be able to have a normal life, or as normal as it could be seeing she's a vampire? Would she survive, seeing someone was out there with a plan that didn't coincide with her own? The characters drew me into their lives. At times I forgot Jenny was a vampire. Her flawed brother made me want to wrap my arms around him and tell him it will be all right. Joey was steadfast, loyal and in love with her. Would they have a future together? I can see now that there could be another book. Is there going to be one? I would love to find out how Jenny fares in the future. I received this book in return for a fair and unbiased review. Human No Longer; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Identity eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Shawna Seed Page; Review: Brian, Sharlah's boyfriend, had been busted for drugs. Sharlah didn't believe it. He was one of the good guys. He had been acting strange but.... Three days later Sharlah was sitting in the back of a cop car again. She had gone to visit her friend, Missy, only to find her lying on the floor in the kitchen. The detective asked if Brian's and Missy's death could be related. At work at the diner, Sharlah searched the newspaper for anything more about Missy. The headlines were all about the low pressure cell, tropical storm Aileen. It was upgraded to a Category One hurricane. Sharlah prepared to hunker down, because she had no intention of leave. She looked out the window and watched the trees blowing. When the bullet came through the window she thought it was something from the storm. Who should appear at the door, but Zak, the detective. He seemed to show up at just the right time. Was that a coincidence or was something else going on? As the storm worsened, Brian told Sharlah to grab her valuables and go. She talked to Kevin in Houston. He told her to come there. She loaded up and left. It had been four years and Brian found it hard to believe that Sharlah had just walked away, never to be seen again. It was like hurricane picked her up and took her away. Ten years later, still no answers. But Brian could not forget. He thought of Sharlah every day. 5 STARS - Would Buy It For Them (lol) Shawna Seed approached me and asked if I would read and review Identity. When I read the blurb she sent me, I jumped right on it. The book spoke to me before I even opened my Kindle to begin reading. I just want to take a moment and apologize to Shawna for taking so long to write the review. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. Read it straight through. All the time I'm reading, I keep hoping I know the ending. I have come to care about the characters and want good things for them. I want to have a happy ending. It was like a TV show - it's this guy, no that guy, no too obvious, it's that guy. The mystery and suspense I felt, while trying to figure out who did it, kept me on the edge of my seat. I was leaning forward and devouring the words like the M & M candies I love. This book is full of betrayal, love, sacrifice and self centered cruelty. It has every element for a successful and amazing novel. Great story and writing. I love and hate the characters and it has a mega hit ending. The ending? Tears in my eyes and then it was over. It took me five plus hours, but I just could not quit. A little bit of humor: "A disease called lackanookie." If this is her debut novel, I can hardly wait to see what Shawna Seed comes up with; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HEART SEARCH - book one; Brand: Visit Amazon's Carlie M A Cullen Page; Review: He had waited so long for THIS human. Joshua had visited South Weald Country Park many times. He had no idea that this time would be life changing. As I thought of becoming Mrs. Joshua Grant, I couldn't help but smile. Joshua met me at the airport. His kiss was very passionate. We made love that night and I awoke to find bruises all over my body. I guess he really did miss me. I managed to keep it from him, but when we made love again, I awoke in the morning feeling even more pain. It wasn't just bruises this time. There were long, raw scratches down my arms and thighs. Before I could cover up, he came in the room. He saw what he had done and fell to his knees, crying. He ran from the house. After Remy left for work, Joshua returned to the house. He saw the wedding lists on the table. He grabbed a pen and pad and wrote, "Dear Remy............." 5 STARS - Would Buy It For Them (lol) I had heard a lot about this book from my sister at fuonlyknew. She fell in love with it. Myself, I thought, oh another vampire book. I take my Vampires in small doses. Thrillers and mysteries are my favorites, with the paranormal and horror next in line. Was I in for a huge surprise. I have read thousands of books, so to surprise me is huge kudos to the author. I was immediately drawn in and the story never let me go. It is so well written that the pages passed quickly beneath my eyes. I was in a hurry to find out how this would go. The story is told from two different points of view, Remy's and Joshua's. Carlie did really well blending them together so I didn't loose track of what was happening going back and forth. Remy's love was so strong that she couldn't let him go. She went in "Search" of him. As Remy starts to dream, my hand reaches to turn the page. Oops, no page, it's my Kindle. How would you "Search" ? Where to begin once the obvious is done? I guess that is why a show like America's Most Wanted is such a hit. John Walsh, the host, is a prime example of how far some people will go to get an answer. At first I really didn't like how callous the vampires were, then I thought, that's how they are supposed to be. Cold, self-centered, unfeeling. Carlie's vampires seemed more realistic. Realistic? LOL. Before I knew it, I was laughing at myself. Is there such a thing as a nice vampire? I think I fell for with Joshua. How could that be? Can a Vampire be a good guy? Remy had been bubbly, outgoing, an extrovert, the life of the party type. As Carlie talks about the pain of her loss, I could feel her determination to find him. When Remy was people watching, I smiled. I remember my girlfriend, who is no longer with us.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bigfoot Galaxy; Brand: Visit Amazon's Eric Kent Edstrom Page; Review: Spoiler Alert: This is the third and final book of the adventures of a group of teenagers as they learn more about life than they had ever thought possible. I tried not to give anything away. Hunameesovenama "Shaggy" wanted to them to show themselves to the humans. Danny thought they should be concentrating on Gorvit. Coming out to the humans wouldn't make a much difference if Gorvit used Starkiller to destroy the Earth's sun. Shaggy's plan was to evacuate the VIP humans to the planet Hoo, where they could be bred like cattle. But Danny had his own plan. He would have to be secretive and sly if he was to accomplish it. Breyona awoke and Tog helped her get up. He was there to help with her plan to escape. He had to remind her that when she jumped off a wall, they had brought her back in a Breyona body, just like she wanted. But she was also Nefertiti. They were on the planet Hoo and Breyona's plan was for Tog to help her teleport back to Earth. Danny didn't know who he could trust, but he would need help. He couldn't do this alone. If they were going to escape, they needed to do it now. 5 STARS - Would Buy It For Them (lol) The covers are out of this world amazing. Eric Kent Edstrom has the ability to create extravagant worlds with his vivid imagination. His excellent writing makes it easy to travel the Universe with Danny and his friends. They have traveled from planet to planet and back again. They have encountered unimaginable horrors and creatures beyond description. I enjoyed every minute of it. I got lost as I teleported with Danny, wondering how WE were going to save Earth and humankind from destruction. Danny is my favorite character and when you read the books, you will know why. He never waivers in doing what he thinks needs to be done, no matter the risk to himself. The characters have everything you would want - bravery, treachery, love, hate, loyalty, friendship, heroism, egotism and selflessness. Keep in mind the characters leading these extraordinary adventures are a group of normal teenagers, thrust from their world into a world so foreign, they could never in their (or my) wildest dreams come up with Eric's world. What do you expect aliens from another planet to look like? How technologically advanced do you think they would be? I received the books of the The Undermountain Saga (Undermountain, Afterlife and Starkiller) in return for honest and unbaised reviews. I was more than happy to share my thoughts and feelings of such an amazing series. Starkiller (The Undermountain Saga #3); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Redemption (The Alexa Montgomery Series Book 4) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's H. D. Gordon Page; Review: The war that was prophesied had begun but who would be the Savior - Alexa or Nelly? The villagers breathed easier but something had changed. They were waiting to find out what would happen next. Alexa felt the urge to kill as strong as ever, but the Monster inside her reminded her of why she was doing this - Nelly. At the same time, Nelly saw Alexa lying dead beside the king she had slain. A scream erupted from Nelly's throat. Who would be destroyed? Who would be left standing when the war is over? ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Redemption by H D Gordon is a novel of an ongoing supernatural war with faes, trolls, pixies, sorcerers, leprechauns, demons, angel, vampires, wolves and many other members of the magical community. Alexa and Nelly are sisters that will sacrifice everything for each other. They are very unique magical beings who have a special role in the war. Kayden is Alexa's love interest and H D Gordon has a photograph to feast your eyes on. What do you think? Is he worthy? Redemption rocked from the opening page. It is jam packed with non-stop action that kept coming, rolling over me, leaving me awash with a need to get to the end and find the answer - what will become of Alexa? I want her to have a happy ending. I feel she deserves it for all the sacrifices she has made. I try to read through the tears in my eyes, my heart breaking. This can't be the end. H. D. you blew my mind. I can't begin to tell you the emotions that ran through me as I struggled to finish the book. "How is one broken thing supposed to fix another?" " With love." 5 STARS - Would Buy It For Them (lol) I received Redemption from H D Gordon in return for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you H D, for giving me the opportunity to read and review the entire series. A new character is introduced in this book and there is a spinoff series to The Alexa Mongomery Saga - The Surah Stormsong Novels. Shooting Stars, Book I and Falling Stars, Book II are now available. If you loved the Alexa Montgomery Saga, you will want to read these too. Redemption (The Alexa Montgomery Saga); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tragically Flawed (Tragic #1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's A.M. Hargrove Page; Review: Tragically Flawed got so hot, the ice melted in my margarita glass. LOL I never read a lot of romance, until I started blogging. I have found authors that I love, so I read anything they write. A M Hargrove is one of those authors. I really enjoy her stories and writing style. I was very pleasantly surprised with Tragically Flawed. It is Riviera's rags to riches story. A story of her ability to rise above her tragedies and find love and friendship from the wonderful people who enter her life when she leaves her abusive live-in boyfriend and starts her life over in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Annie has a fantastic sense of humor and a mind blowing imagination in the romance department. Makes me wonder where all that hotness comes from. Care to share, Annie? Riviera - She has no education. She is a middle class worker. She is beautiful and trendy - tattoos, blue or pink tints in her hairs. She carries many scars, both physical and mental. She has been on her own since she was sixteen. Even though her life has been tough and people have treated her badly, she still feels people are good. She is the eternal optimist. Amie, Riviera's roommate, is the best. She works at Shelby's Shack, a women's shelter and has a very special gift - patience. Shan - He is a construction mogul. Physically fit, built like a Greek God. He wants no relationship. He has enough baggage of his own, but he falls for Riviera when he first sets eyes on her. Jasper was her live-in boyfriend. He is a horrendous abuser. She feels she is lucky to have lived through her time with him. He is a steroid raging weight lifter. Marsha Sue - She is a tyrant. Riviera's first job in Beaver Creek is with her and she is an awful employer. Have you ever had one? When Riviera finally stood up for herself against Marsha Sue, I felt like clapping and jumping up and down. Way to go girl. QUOTES "Sometimes being a gentleman was a damn b****." "No one likes Marsha Sue. She's meaner than a rattlesnake." "I'd rather have a root canal than go out with her." "I am broken, Shan. And I'm flawed." "We're all flawed, Riviera. You've experienced something tragic, but it didn't break you." "Riviera suddenly felt like a stack of hot buttermilk pancakes and Shan's voice was the warm maple syrup running all over her, dripping down her sides and seeping into every pore." How hot is that? What are you thinking right at this very moment? I had tears in my eyes when Shan finally got through to Riviera and she talked to him. Tragically Flawed read like a fairy tale come true. It made me think of Pretty Woman, even though Riviera is not a prostitute. We all want to believe in fairy tale endings, don't we? I am so anal, I read almost every word in a book, cover to cover, The font in the chapter headings was hard; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beginnings, Prequel Novella to The Guardians of Vesturon (YA Paranormal Romance) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's A. M. Hargrove Page; Review: Beginnings will introduce you to the characters and customs of the Vesturons. Just because they are aliens, doesn't mean we can't relate to many of their ways. I had already read Survival, Book I of the Guardians of Vesturon Serives, so I was familiar with the characters. I found Beginnings captivating, because as a fan of A M Hargrove's and the Guardians of Vesturon Series, I truly wanted to know Rowan's story. I wanted to know why he was so hard on Rayn's choice of a commoner for a mate, when Rowan, himself, had married a commoner. Royalty is no different today, so I didn't find the situation odd or wrong. It is just the way things are. Royalty is expected to act differently than the rest of us. A M Hargrove has a way of drawing you in and making you feel as if you are there, sharing the thoughts and feelings of her characters. They come alive in her writing and you will laugh and cry as you travel through the series, going through their trials and tribulations. Love crosses all boundaries and will not be denied. The heart wants what the heart wants. Where there is a will, there is a way. Do you believe that love can conquer all? 3 STARS - Would Recommend To Others The reason I gave it only three stars is because it is background, laying a foundation for what is to come. It will help us to understand and relate to the characters better. There are no bells and whistles. Even though Rowan's life is no picnic, it didn't have me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next shoe to drop, but is well worth the read to get to know the ways of the Vesturon I picked the book up free from Amazon. Beginnings, Prequel Novella to The Guardians of Vesturon (YA Paranormal Romance); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jackpot, a Frank Renzi novel - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Susan Fleet Page; Review: Four lottery winners. Four murders. Is there a serial killer on the loose? ~~~~~~~~~~~~ I love the cover of Jackpot, as I do for all of Susan Fleet's novels. Simple and direct. Susan Fleet loves to write about serial killers and Jackpot is another murder mystery that reads like True Crime. I do not find the plot so far fetched. I have watched The Lottery Changed My Life, a tv show about lottery winners. In one episode, a man was killed at a strip club. He had been known to carry large amounts of cash, making him a prime target. Check out The Tragic Stories of The Unluckiest Winners. Who knows what sets off a killer? Jackpot is full of suspense, containing plots within plots. The story keeps unraveling and what starts out as a good thing, quickly turns bad. But then again, Susan loves to write about serial killers and does a fine job of it. The characters come alive on the pages as Susan Fleet leads us from one murder to the next. Hed won $12 million and he was still a loser. Poor Nigel. He finally got a break. He won $12 million dollars in the lottery. His need to gamble, which had ruined his life, vanished. But, some people seem to be jinxed. Bad things seem to follow them around, like bees to honey or flies to s***. Frank is a very flawed hero, but I love him. He never hurts anyone on purpose and goes out of his way for a child. It seems Susan Fleet always has a child in her books, that crosses Franks path. He goes above and beyond to help. I like my heroes tarnished. They become more real to me and Frank fits the bill. He is married and having an affair with a married woman, Gina. They have been together for years and he is faithful to her. They met because of their jobs. Frank is a cop and Gina a reporter. I would think they are an unlikely duo, until I think of how much time anyone spends at work. Susan fleet has a book idea for Gina and the title would be The Lottery Winner. ^_^ I am very familiar with Boston and the Cape, locations in Jackpot. As Susans words unfold on the page, my mind develops photographs of the passing scenery. I have crossed this bridge many times and have sat in the traffic Susan Fleet talks about. We always worked at timing it to miss the worst - traffic that goes on for miles, cars as far as you can see. She also includes music in her novels, whether if be the Jazz of New Orleans or the Boston Pops. It makes me think of the fantastic Fourth of July fireworks show. Ryan is Ginas husband. His dad is an alcoholic named Tom Collins. Susan always manages to include a little humor with the horror. after dark the scary boogey men come out. I laughed. You have to be there. I received this book in return; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jack (The Tale of Frost); Brand: Visit Amazon's Tony Bertauski Page; Review: If you like the odd, the adventurous, the sci-fi world of magical beings, then this book is for you. ~~~~~~ Sura takes a job at Frost Plantation. She will meet Mr. Frost, whos love of Christmas is obsessive, after all he invented Christmas, didn't he? Sura will find the love of her life and the home she has longed for. She will also meet Jack, who is the opposite of Mr. Frost. Jack hates Christmas. ~~~~~~ A Christmas story so unusual, it makes the Grinch seem like childs play. The world building and character descriptions will have your mind working overtime trying to envision them. Tony Bertauskis imagination knows no bounds as he takes me on a magical, sci-fi adventure after the downfall of the North Pole. There is a love story, but to me that was just the icing on the cake. Jack is the cake. Elves in South Carolina? Impossible? If you saw a round blue guy, what would you think? I love a guy that I love to hate and Jack fits that bill to a T. I wanted to laugh and cry with Jack, when I could get over the fact that he was a total a******. I felt bad for him and then I wanted to slap him up side the head. Jack didn't have visions of sugar plums, but there were reindeer and a jolly fat man dancing in his head. The sun was so hot, but his memories were of white, fluffy snow and ice cold temperatures. He was not a pleasant person to be around. All that being said, I have to say that I liked Jack. The things he went through as he came alive made me root for him, encouraging him to hang in there, things will get better, won't they? I was confused for a while, trying to figure out what in the hell happened after all the badness at the North Pole, but as it came together I was even more surprised. This book is darker than Claus, but every bit as entertaining to read. I love a surprise at the end, and Tony left me screaming for more! When Tony says, Id rather sail a boat than climb a mountain, I smiled, nodded my head and said to myself, Im with you Tony. I received this book from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Happened in Witches Wood (Class Heroes Book 2) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Stephen Henning Page; Review: Simon took Asha to Witches Wood to scare her. They sat on a bench by the river. They noticed the bench was dedicated to Katherine Bethany Blake, who drowned in the river in 1987. Simon thought everything was going great, a little kissing, a little touching. Then Asha screamed. A girl stepped towards them, dripping water from her clothes and hair, covered in blood. In a blink, she was gone. ~~~~~~~ ***Spoiler Alert*** I do not believe there is anything here that will spoil A Class Apart, Book I of the Class Heroes series, so feel free to read on. The cover speaks to me, a girl in the woods. Simple, yet lends an aura of mystery. This is the second book of the Class Heroes series . They tell the story of teenage superheroes, James and Sam, and the people that want what they have and what they would do to get it. I liked that Stephen had more than one storyline going. James and Sam would have their trials and tribulations with G-Netik and Lolly. But what about Katherine? Who is she and why does Sam feel the need to solve the mystery? James and Sams parents had told them to never go into the woods. Do you think they would be able to resist? Tell a teenager not to do something and it usually creates more curiosity and sometimes a desire more urgent than was there before. Sir Rosewood is a respected businessman who is used to getting whatever he wants. His daughter, Lolly has learned all his evil lessons. The corruption in the upper echelons has allowed him so much leeway in his abuse of power that no one has foreseen how far he will go. He thought he had the right to do whatever it takes to get what he wants. As the people gather to party in the woods while looking for ghosts, it made me think of the Squatchers. If you have never see this Discovery show, check it out and prepare to laugh your way through the woods with the squatching crew as they hunt for Bigfoot. Stephen describes Sam running. She wasn't supposed to be doing it, because it cannot be explained. His description made me think of the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman. I can hear the theme music playing now. I love it when I can relate the story to a movie or TV show, making it easier to visualize the scene, as if it is a mini movie playing through my mind. Sometimes Book II in a series can fall a little short and I felt What Happened in Witches Wood did not let me down. Action packed, multiple storylines, characters Im loving and hating and I am unable to put the book down. What more can I ask for? Wheres Lolly? This villainess is still on the loose and I aim to hunt her down. I love this series and am so happy to know that Lolly has her own story coming up next. It will; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Where's Lolly? (Class Heroes Book 3) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Stephen Henning Page; Review: I am so happy to see that Stephen Henning has written a book for the villainess. It is unusual that I become so enamored by a bad guy, but Lolly has my full attention. I cant help but feel some empathy for her in this novella. With her background, it is not surprising that she turned out the way she did, but she is a human being. There is a heart, though it seems to be buried pretty deep. Can anyone reach her, make a connection? She is on the run, with only one person to turn to. But, can he, will he be able to help her? I was walking through the words, strolling along. Before I knew it, I was racing through the pages, so curious to see the outcome. Images flashed through my mind Lolly holding the man by the heels, threatening to drop him off the roof scaling walls and creating fire with her super powers. I love it! Stephen Henning had my attention from the beginning to the end. Lots of action and emotion in such a few pages. I think this novella will entice you to read further and discover the adventures of the superheroes, James and Sam. Maybe you will even develop some empathy for Lolly, as I did. After all, she is only an unhappy teenager with superpowers. How bad can it be? I received this novella from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spooky Short Stories - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kathryn Meyer Griffith Page; Review: I have read several books by Kathryn Meyer Griffith, so there was no question about reading these short stories and sharing them with you. There are four of them and each has its own special problem. So, lets visit the supernatural world of ghosts, witches, banshees and werewolves. Ghost Brother (approx. 6600 words) I came to, sitting on top of a grave. I hope it isn't mine. LOL Of course, it is. I saw that one coming, but loved it anyway. I knew most of what would happen, but there was a twist and a turn to keep me on my toes. He couldn't remember how he died. He does find out and lives to regret it. I love ghost stories and this is full of anguish and misery. Perfect for a ghost. Lots of action. An interesting and fun read. Excellent ending. ****** Running With The Train ( a werewolf short story of 5650 words) Sarah was looking out the window of the train and saw something something running faster than the train. It looked like wolves, but there are no wolves at the Grand Canyon. Right? She had felt a tug, an urge to jump off the train and run through the woods with the creatures. Yeah, thats what Im looking for. A wolfish man to love me forever. Maybe shell find it. When Kathryn mentioned the urge, the feeling of being drawn towards something, it made me think of Close Encounters. ****** The Banshee and The Witch (a magical romantic story, approx 9550 words: Cleona was over four hundred years old. Maybe you figured it out. She is a supernatural being, a witch. For three nights in a row, shed woken from a dream, feeling an impending doom close around her. She had worked her magic, creating a spell to keep her young, but it was no longer working. I haven't read much about banshees, but have seen them on Charmed, a TV program of the supernatural kind. Evil or not, Im liking the banshees. Great story showing what some will do for the chance at another life, another love. What would you trade? ****** Too Close To The Edge (a ghostly story of 5600 words) OMG. This was the scariest of all. My favorite of the four short stories. I have stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon and looked down, down, down. Kathryn does a great job of describing the terror of someone who is afraid of heights and the thoughts that go through their mind. The aura of the past seems to haunt the area, so who knows what ghosts roam the Grand Canyon. No, Jeff, I cant. I cant come any closer. I can picture her, cowering far away from the edge, trying not to let other sightseers discover her terror. I am afraid of flying and heights. I remember Mr. Wonderful, my hubby, taking me to the top of the Stratosphere in Vegas,the Towers in Toronto and Niagara Falls, and Chichen Itza. Now that one, I couldn't hide my terror from others. I; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shadow of Vengeance (Book 3 C.O.R.E. Shadow Trilogy) (CORE Shadow Triology) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kristine Mason Page; Review: Rachel saw the call was coming from Seans phone. She had a feeling something might be wrong. Sherriff Jake Tyler told her Sean, her brother, had been beaten and was at the Dixon Medical Center. She had no idea of the mystery surrounding hazing at Wexman University. Until she heard about Josh. Welcome to hell week. You have seven days to find him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shadow of Vengeance reads like a Criminal Minds TV episode. Revenge can be a powerful motivator and HE is driven to have his. The crimes are brutal and vicious. Revenge is an ice-cold mistress. Shadow of Vengeance is also a romance story. The sexual innuendo is so hot, it could be a Castle TV episode. Will they end up together? What do you think? Once I open the pages and begin reading one of Kristine Masons books, I find them almost impossible to put down. I love how she builds plots within plots, messing up my plans to figure out what will happen by throwing in a twist here and there. I race through the pages, desperate to find out what is going to happen. I tell myself to slow down or I will run out of book, but I cannot stop. I met Lois and her friend and my heart broke for them. Kristine writes about Owen thinking about Jake and Rachel. I couldn't help but laugh. Poor Owen. LOL Still cant help but laugh. Sometimes we don't see what is right in front of us. At first I thought that Kristine was repeating their lovey dovey stuff too often. THEN, I thought about my own experiences. Isnt that what real love is about? You cannot quit thinking about the one you love, even over a dead body. The thought of gently caressing..well, you know where thats going. The personal problems Rachel and Owen encounter while working together shows how difficult life can be when you s*** where you work. Kristines ability to write a fantastic novel never ceases to amaze me. Her plots read like a Criminal Minds episode realistic, tragic and terrifying events. I have no doubt that Kristine will produce another masterpiece that I will be dying to pick up. Along with that feeling, comes the letdown. Will there be more from The Core? I want to read more Shadows ?, or ?, or whatever. Well, Kristine. What is next? Love this: Sometimes lifes a bitch, which is why I tend to be one. This is Wolverine territory. Bills the only fool I know that likes those d***** Buckeyes. Go Blue. Shadow of Vengeance takes place in Michigan and that is Wolverine country. I am BLUE. I received this book from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I Am Forever (What Kills Me Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Wynne Channing Page; Review: I am a Super Vampire. So, why am I locked up with Lucas in an empty room, while the Empress and her cronies decide our fate? They cant kill me or they all die. ~~~ Spoiler Alert: I Am Forever is the sequel to What Kills Me. I will do my best to give little or nothing away, because I feel this book is even better than the first and I would like you to experience it for yourself. The covers for Wynnes books are beautiful. I love the colors and the effect of shattered glass. Its an indication of what is to come as Axelia continues her battle to stay alive and retain her freedom. Wynne writes in such vivid detail, I can breathe in the heavy scent of the botanical garden through the thick humid air. I can feel the moisture beading on my skin and dripping down my back. It is easy to relate to the excellent description, when you live in a Gulf state, as I do. Her description of the doctor looking like Ernie from Sesame Street had me laughing out loud. Wynne describes how vampires date by comparing it to Lady and the Tramp eating spaghetti. I bet that is a visual that will take you a while to erase from your mind. Ever since the accident that made her a vampire, the Sacrivas prophecy has ruled her life: A human girl will be reborn a vampire. She will shed the blood of all those who walk in darkness. She will be the first. She will mean the death of all Vampires. Axelia not only was she super powerful, she was also immune to the sun. She didn't need to breathe, but her senses were heightened and she would do it just to enjoy the smells. She had been a seventeen year old high school student, until two weeks ago. Now she is a God, but she would give her life for Lucas. Lucas incredibly brave. He made Axelia feel safe, having saved her life more than once. He stuck to her like glue and would die for her. Wynne keeps me on the fence about Uther. Is he good? Is he bad? Is he trustworthy and naive or just evil? You will have to read for yourself to find out. But the Empress, I know what she is. My question is does Axelia? I was disappointed in Axelias actions with the Empress, but I kept saying to myself, She is seventeen years old and has only been a Vampire for two weeks. How would I react? Or you? Axelias story kept getting better. Wynne manages to have me laughing, even as heads are flying I mean that literally. The war continues in I Am Forever and I stand by Axelia as I try to tell her to watch out for..She only wants to have a life and I want that for her. I received the ARC of I Am Forever from Wynne Channing, in return for an honest and unbiased review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Plains (Zombie West Book 3) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Angela Scott Page; Review: Spoiler alert: This is the third book in the Trilogy. Survivor Roundup left me hanging off the cliff by my fingertips and I was eager to get my hands on Dead Plains, Book III of the Zombie West Trilogy by Angela Scott. My child. What could he do about it? Not a d*** thing. ~~~~~~ The Zombie West Series caught me so off guard, that I fell in love with it and Angela Scotts writing. It is a unique and novel approach to Zombies, that will have you walking the plains, hand and hand with Red and her motley crew, desperately trying to survive. Imagine walking, walking, walking, no destination just walking. Nowhere is safe. Now imagine doing it while nine months pregnant. The characters were an unlikely bunch. In another time, they never would have met, let alone been friends and family. Alone, with everyone you ever knew dead or lost to you, you would be forced to trust. There is safety in numbers. The characters lived life fully, their emotions strong and their needs directed their actions. They never knew when their life would end, or maybe begin in another form. Red is special and wanted. Some wanted her for good, others would stop at nothing to capture her, thinking she was their salvation. Angelas descriptions of the Zombies were amazing. They are called the Undead for a reason. I could see them shuffling along, being drawn from place to place by the smell of humans. Decomposing with every step they take. The fights are graphic and gruesome. Guts spilling out, a knife through the chin, brains blown away and an arrow through the eye are only a few of the groups attempts to kill the Zombies. Could you imagine needing clothes so badly, that you would strip them from the Undead? How long do you think it would take to get used to the smell, so you don't want to vomit with every breath you take. As the group pulled the Zombie from the river I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes. Hilarious description a rope around neck its neck and the horses pulling and pulling.. I loved that Angela could add humor to so much gruesomeness. After all, no matter how desperate the times are, a smile or a laugh can give you hope. The Zombie West Trilogy is a fantastic story of life and death, love and betrayal and trust and loyalty, after the world has gone to hell. The characters will have you laughing and crying as you walk through the Dead Plains with them. Every time you think of Zombies, you will want to pull out the Zombie West Trilogy and read it again. If you like Zombies, this is a Must Read! ~~~~~~~~~~~~ There would be a burial, and grieving, and somehow.theyd find a way to go on. This was the best welcome back from the dead woke up and puked. sometimes it is not meant for us to understand. Sometimes we are simply required to do.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DARK DEEDS: Serial Killers, stalkers and domestic homicides, Volume 2 - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Susan Fleet Page; Review: Each chapter features one true crime case 4 serial killer cases, four stalker cases and four domestic homicide cases, with a special case in Chapter 13 that Susan found difficult to categorize. Susan tells their life story, including where they are now. At least these ones you don't need to worry about any more. If they are not dead, they will never walk the streets again. No one knows how many serial killers are active in the US. Some people think as many as one hundred people are murdered by them each year, but that is not accounting for the ones never found. There are many more stalkers than serial killers and domestic homicide is a horrendous problem with most victims being women and children. In the early years, before special investigation units, computers connecting similar cases in different states and advanced police techniques, who knows how many people could have been saved. We can see the advancement in police procedure has jumped by leaps and bounds. Serial killers often have a signature, something that stamps their name on a killing,. It can be how they kill or the trophies they take. Stalker assassins attack celebrities, presidents and others because they believe they can get away with it. How does a mans mind work, when he believes, in this day and age, that he can pull a gun on the president and walk away? They are obsessed and believe they are in love. They will become violent when confronted and rejected. California was the first state to pass anti stalking laws in 1990. Looking back, its hard to believe we waited so long and why did we? That may be a story in itself. I read these type of books, because mans cruelty and depravity heaped on others for pure enjoyment is very disturbing and I am fascinated (is that the proper word) by the question, why. What makes them tick? I can never understand how a nurse could kill her patients. The bigger question is how can hospitals and medical management allow it to continue to happen. I think most of us have heard a story or two about a criminal having a long rap sheet and question why nothing was done sooner. I watch TV shows, like Criminal Minds (my personal favorite) and CSI, and see where they get their inspiration. I also watch a lot of the true crime shows, like Forensic Files and Cold Case. I have a morbid fascination with murder. I do believe there is something wrong with these people, but I do not believe an insanity plea should get them off. They know the difference between right and wrong, they just don't care. Sometimes, I think the justice system is skewed too much in favor of the accused and his rights and the victim is forgotten. After all, they cant speak for themselves because they are DEAD. I cannot understand the binge killings, especially the ones committed by younger people. All the school shootings. I don't even know what to say. It stuns me. Who; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CIRCLE OF DISHONOR (The Circle Series) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Carla Swafford Page; Review: Circle of Dishonor is a erotic novella. As a novella, the story is laying the groundwork for future stories, so I allowed for that in my rating. I did not expect the whole story and felt the novella accomplished its goal I want to read more about him and her. Peoples eyes are drawn to him when he enters a room, not just because of his looks but the aura that surrounds him. He has a southern accent that can fool people into believing hes something hes not. Lena was taking tai chi classes, but could not overcome her clumsiness. What could she say? She is a klutz. She was easy going but restrained. She had been watching John for weeks. She would sit at the coffee shop, pretending to look at her computer as she watched him through the window. His body is poetry in motion as he performs his tae kwan do routine. But today was different. He approached her at the coffee shop. As they talked over a cup of tea, he knew she belonged to him. I don't know if hes good or bad, Im thinking hes a good man, but a bad boy. Ya know what I mean? I guess its not really love at first sight, considering they have been watching each other for weeks and he really is more than he seems to be. A lot of people will find her actions totally unbelievable, but you would be surprised what happens in the real world. I love when books take place in locations I am familiar with. After being attacked, they end up staying at his beach house in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area, right around the corner from me and places I visit often. Its not long until they are found. I can visualize the events taking place in the house and on the beach as they struggle to survive. I figured from the cover the book would be HOT. It sure is! I grabbed the book because of the blurb. I found the novella had a lot of action, but I was hoping it would be more of the fighting kind, than the sex kind. I did find the need to read straight through to see how it would end. It took me 65 minutes. I enjoyed the read and I know erotica lovers will want this on their reading list. I received an ebook in return for an honest and unbiased review for the tour.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dark Mountain; Brand: Visit Amazon's C.B. Pratt Page; Review: Beautiful cover and interesting storyline. I thought this book would be a great read. It is about a supernatural assassin that will handle the dispatch of a dragonet, a minotaur, or whatever creature is giving you problems. He is a jack of all trades. I was very disappointed. I struggled to get through it. I would find myself reading along and realize I was just reading the words. I had no idea what I had read and would go back over it again. I could not get involved in the story or the characters. It was like a school reading assignment in government. I picked it up and put it down for weeks. I was bored and the story created no curiosity or emotion. This is book 3 and I have not read the first two. Did this make a difference? I read 64%, but could not find a reason to continue. There are so many books and so little time, so I finally gave up. This is very unusual for me and I am sorry that I could not find it worth my while to finish. I received an ebook in return for an honest and unbiased review.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fanged eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Wheatley Page; Review: OMG. I was completely engrossed in this fantastic fantasy of love, sacrifice, revenge and suspense! The cast of characters comes alive on the pages and Elisabeth creates some surprising alliances as they struggle to survive. At one point I am leaning forward in my chair as I breathlessly read the words flowing off the page. Haddie is an enforcer, A Kaiju, a vampire. She had never killed anyone to feed and because of her own experience never would. Damian, her brother is in love with a human, Madelyn. Haddie knew her father would not let the relationship continue. After all, he had ended the relationship she had with the human, Fletcher. The trio are on the run from Haddies father and she will do whatever needs to be done to let them have a life together, the life she was deprived of. But they cant do it alone. Who would help them? Yeah, this might have been shades of Twilight, but it is so much more than that and I really enjoyed Twilight. My feelings about Madelyn grow and change as the story unfolds and her love and loyalty shine through. Chase Hmmm. What can I say, except I can hardly wait to get to know him better. I think short stories must be some of the hardest stories to write. How do you pack so much into such a small package and keep the reader at your mercy.? Elisabeth did that splendidly and I cant wait to read more of Haddies story in the Fanged Outcast. The three humans survey me with apprehension. A fanged princess in their midst. I received Fanged Princess from the author in return for an honest review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mel Goes to Hell (Mel Goes to Hell Series Book 3) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Demelza Carlton Page; Review: Spoiler Alert: This is Book III in the Mel Goes To Hell Series. The Mel Goes To Hell Series has been a hilarious romp through Hell with angels and demons vying for the souls of others. The witty dialogue and snarky repartee between Mel and Luce kept me laughing and hoping. Hoping that good will prevail and that Mel and Luce will be able to come to some kind of an agreement (?). It is a story of love, sacrifice and redemption. Yep. I thought that would happen and wondered how it would work out. But, I cant tell you. You will have to find out for yourself and it is well worth the read. Mel is bold, confident and calling in all her favors. Love is Mels greatest strength. Can it redeem Luce, the Lord of Hell? Or would she be the one to fall? I am attracted to the bad boy. Can a bad boy change his ways? What do you think? Who would walk through Hell naked? I do it all the time. Well, usually with horns, the tail, the red skinyou know, the whole works . People seem to expect it on occasion Mel Goes To Hell is a bit different from the first two books in the series. It is more serious in tone and storyline as the battle between good and evil escalates, but she does not forget the humor that, I believe, helps all friendships to grow and develop into long lasting relationships. The series has such a unique storyline that keeps me captivated and wanting more. The twists and turns, along with the surprises Demelza comes up with will, I hope, continue to entertain me. Is there more to come, Demelza? I received the ebook for Mel Goes To Hell by Demelza Carlton in return for an honest, unbiased review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blueberry Hill; Brand: Visit Amazon's Bette Lee Crosby Page; Review: The covers Bette Lee Crosby chooses for her novels always make me wonder what will be between the pages. I feel there will be some laughs and some tears as we travel down the road of life with her realistic characters. I never even looked at the synopsis, just picked up Blueberry Hill and started reading. After all, its Bette Lee, so I know it will be good. Oh manthis hits very close to home. Donna killed herself. She didn't do it by popping pills or slitting her wrists, but by her lifestyle choices. Donna was carefree. She lived for the moment. She was popular, cool, and believed anything is possible. She would then proceed to make it happen. She was very generous; spent the money she earned, while Bette would save. Donna has attitude with a capital A. I am loving her. The female version of Fonzi from Happy Days. Mama said Bette was the oldest, so it was her responsibility to keep her two sisters out of trouble. I can see where that could lead to guilt for not doing more to save Donna from herself. I, too, have dealt with the issue of enabling. When is the time to step in? Do we have the right to tell someone how to live, even if they have chosen a destructive lifestyle? Bette felt they were a normal family, until Donna ran away. Even after she came back, they were never the same. Donna fell in love with a loser, who divorced her and left her after she had a baby. She married him again and had another child, but the marriage didn't stick. We don't choose who we fall in love with. She never quit loving him, even until her death. She was a great mother, full of love. The real loss was when the nest was EMPTY. Having a sister is like having a thumb, you simply believe it will always be there, because how could you possible get along without it. I have tears in my eyes as I read this. I recently lost one of my sisters and this almost sounds like her biography. She used to call me tag-a-long when we were kids, because I followed her everywhere. It is still hard to believe she is really gone. We do become involved in our daily lives and think tomorrow Ill.call herget with her.take the time to stop in...At least I can take consolation in the fact that she lived her life the way she wanted ( like Donna). Bette Lee Crosby left out the horrid details that would rip our hearts out, but I felt the pain, as she relived the memories. With the loss of my sister, I can relate to the story on a very personal level. When do you step in, especially when you know it will do no good? We must remember, it is their life. They are a grown up. We can lie to ourselves and live in denial, but what will be, will be. My sister and Donna chose their; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultimate Fear (Book 2 Ultimate C.O.R.E.) (C.O.R.E. Series) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kristine Mason Page; Review: The doll on the cover is pretty creepy, spine tingling. I found out, Kristine plans all her covers ahead of time. I love them all. They are simple and uncluttered, speaking loudly to me danger, Will Robinson, danger. I am very bad. As soon as my copy hit my Kindle, I dropped everything to begin reading! Kristines writing keeps me on the edge of my seat, hardly able to contain myself. Blood the very first word in the book. This is why I love Kristine Masons writing. I know its going to be bad, but I am loving the badand the good I know will come. I am riveted from the very first word and it never lets me go. My notes are so long, I don't know how I am going to condense them down into a coherent review. I want so much to let you know the horror, heartache, anger and rage that someone goes through when the worst thing a parent can imagine happens. Some people isolate themselves, while others need the comfort of those close to them. The POV shifts back and forth and I love being able to see through each characters eyes. Wayne and Dimples are some messed up people. After he told her she could no longer have children, he promised her he would do whatever it took to make her happy. The only thing that would make her happy is to replace their Elton. His promise took him so far over the line, he will never find his way back. Detective Jessica Donavan works murders and suicides, since the kidnapping of her daughter, Sophia. It has been six years, two months and four days. Jessica had let the tragedy drive her and Dante, her husband, apart, instead of closer together. She is stubborn, full of rage and anger, unable to see past it. She seemed real to me. Who knows how we would react. Would we be able to see past our own pain and be able to help our mate cope? Dante has gone from a badass SEAL to a Ghandi wannabe. I love Dante. He is so patient with Jessica, taking her abuse and rage in stride, hoping they will find their way back to each other. He bends over backwards to show her that she is his world. Dante had been the first recruit into CORE which is second only to the FBI and CIA. He always finishes what he starts. Jessica had left the house. The memories were so bad, she couldn't cope with them. She refuses to accept that, even though she cant live with Dante, she cant live without him either. Jessica would call to remind Dante to water the garden. Was that her excuse to stay in touch? I love the fact that Dante had put a timer on the sprinkler system for the garden, but he kept it a secret and used it to lure Jessica home, at least long enough to check on the garden. Even though they live separately, Jessica kept in touch with; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RAKER eBook; Brand: Christopher A. Gray; Review: Do you like science fiction fantasy? Do you have five minutes or so to spare? Pick up this free short story about a technologically advanced android and what happens when an immovable object (the android) comes in contact with a human police force that desires to take him into the station while investigating an altercation. Plato's primary mission is to act as bodyguard to Dr. Norman Stravinsky. The Doctor had sent him on an important mission. A standard Raker has a handler, but Plato is special. He is as close to sentient as he could be, without being human. On the return trip, Plato comes across a crime in progress. What would he do? He is only a machine, but..... How would you feel about an artificial intelligence that could, more or less, eliminate poverty and religious fanatics? What would you give up? Your privacy? You freedom of choice? Technology has become such a part of the human world, that most people, whether they realize it or not, have given up their privacy. Raker is an interesting glimpse into a world where technology makes the world a better place, but at what cost. How can you convince human beings, that a machine capable of destroying them, can be trusted to 'make the right choice?' I really enjoyed this short story and at times I feared for Plato. I related to him as if he was human, not a machine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crawlspace: A Selection from Screamscapes: Tales of Terror - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Evans Light Page; Review: Evans Light, and his brother Adam, write some of the most excellent and creeptastic short stories you will ever read. Crawlspace is a prime example of Evans originality and his twisted mind. LOL He is a bestselling author and his short stories are a delight (?) to read. I feel confident he will have me cringing and the hairs standing up on the back of my neck as I delve into this one. I love the covers that foreshadow the wickedness between the pages. Thomas had been living the high life, until.. His depression over the loss of his career was paralyzing. I can picture him as he gains weight and doesnt care enough to even shower. Then he met her, Miranda. Kelly, his wife, is at her wits end. I can feel her frustration with the situation. She heads out the door with their daughter, giving him an ultimatum. Finish the work in the Crawlspace, or else. He could do that. He just needed to pick himself up and get on with it. Im tring to figure out how Evans can make a crawlspace any creepier than it already is. I mean, think about it. It's dark, damp, dark and there are creepy crawlies in there. Evan Light's description of the darkness and smell makes me not want to go into the Crawlspace, but glad that Thomas has to. LOL The darkness is so deep, he cant see his hand in front of his face. The ground is muddy and cold, seeping into every pore of his body. Oh no, spiders. But they are just webs, empty with empty carcasses of captured prey. Im getting claustrophobic. My heart starts to beat faster. My breath comes quicker. I had a glimpse of where this is going, but the extreme machinations of Kelly, a woman determined to keep her man, no matter what the lengths she has to go to, knows no bounds. I sit tensely waiting .. Crawlspace is a dark and horrifying tale that had me on the edge of my seat, wringing my hands. I did not see the end coming and couldn't help but chuckle a bit when it did. I may have a morbid sense of humor. I am an armchair editor and found some minor issues. They did not affect my rating, because the writing was so imaginative, I feel Crawlspace deserves a high rating. After all, how do you take something as common as infidelity and make it into a story you can't put down? This is a free read, so grab your copy now!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Zombie Thanksgiving - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Anthony Renfro Page; Review: Dawn went to the market, shopping for her holiday feast. She had to walk over the dead bodies and kill a couple zombies to get to the "goodies". The blood, guts and nauseating smells didn't even phase her. She missed the simple things, like a run through Raleigh on a cool crisp fall day, but those days were done. I was so hoping she would find the turkey to finish off the feast for the small band of survivors. She risked her life to try and have one "normal" day. What would you risk? 4 Stars for this short and wonderful feel good story for a thankful time of year. I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Christmas Family Wish (Sweet Contemporary Romance Novella) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Helen Scott Taylor Page; Review: A Christmas Family Wish by Helen Scott Taylor is a wonderful, heart warming novella of love, family and second chances. The cover defines the story inside, a wish wrapped in pretty paper. A hurricane damages Rachel Carnes home, bringing an old love, Ian Harper, back into her life. Her son, Toby, had only his grandfather as a male influence in his life. He was wary of Ian, until he rescued Tobys teddy, his best friend, Jimbo, from his demolished bedroom. The house had meant a new start for Rachel and now it lay in ruins. Is Ian the knight in shining armor coming to their rescue? I am falling for him and I think you will too. Ian takes Rachel and Toby home with him, where they meet Max, his trusty golden retriever. It doesnt take long for Rachel and Ian to realize what they had been missing. We all know where this is going, but the journey is warm and fuzzy. There is a silver lining to the dark cloud. The story is predictable, but delightful. The characters are lovable. How often have we heard of someone losing everything right before the Christmas holidays and people opening their hearts to those in need? The human spirit is amazing in its ability to adjust and adapt. Have you ever experienced it?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flury (Journey of a Snowman): A Science Fiction Adventure (Claus Series Book 3) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Tony Bertauski Page; Review: I have read end reviewed Tony Bertauskis original stories of Claus: Legend of the Fat Man and Jack: The Tale of Frost, so I am eager to begin on Flury: Journey of a Snowman. Tonys ability to spin a tale and create new worlds is amazing. Every time I open one of his books, I am ready to be taken to a place I have never been before and meet characters that worm their way into my heart, at least most of them, and leaving me hoping I will see them again. Malcolm Toye became separated from the group that traveled to the North Pole. He knew he wasn't going to make it out alive, as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Oliver and his mom had just arrived at their new home in Colorado. Actually, it was his grandmothers house, the Toye Residence. Oliver is used to spending a lot of time alone. He felt even more isolated since moving here, until he made friends with Molly. Molly is a wonderful girl that fits Oliver perfectly. He has juvenile diabetes and has to keep a close eye on his sugar level. Grandmother is more than prim and proper. Is she purposely cruel? She has rules and one of them is to be in the house before the sun goes down. Why? After waking to sounds crashing through the forest and trees falling, he didn't question it. In his explorations, he finds a trunk filled with curious objects. It belonged to his grandfather, Malcolm Toye. What really intrigued him was the journals and the blue orb that seems warm in his hand. Oliver becomes enraptured by Malcolms journals. He carries the orb he discovered everywhere with him. His cousins act like they were trained by terrorists. They could use some lessons from Emily Post. Henry is a little monster. They wouldnt include him in their games, but after they were gone, he looked for their trail and followed it. Will his inquisitiveness be the end of him or save the day? Now the adventure really begins at 20% into the book. This series of books is joyous fun, full of vivid images of the characters, be they human or. Do you believe in Santa, snowmen and elves? The world building is so imaginative I can feel the light touch of snowflakes on my face as I tip my head back to look up at the sky. Afterwards, I can bask in the warm glow of the fire. It brought back memories of standing under snow covered trees and shaking their branches until I was covered in the fluffy white stuff. What are some of your best memories of snow and the winter season. Oliver won me over in the opening pages. His sense of adventure and curiosity led me to follow him through the pages, doing the chores, wandering the property, exploring Malcoms treasures. And I was very curious about why he shouldnt be out at night. Tony can spin a tale that has me believing, taking me back; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gone Before Goodbye (Love &Mystery in the--6-oh-3 Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Nora LeDuc Page; Review: I saw the cover for Gone Before Goodbye by Nora Leduc and didn't need to look any further. It was talking to me, telling me ~ READ ME. So I did. :-D Gone Before Goodbye by Nora Leduc is suspenseful and tragic from the very beginning. I knew what was coming by the blurb, but Nora kept me on my toes as I struggled to weed through the suspects and find the monster that preys on young girls. There are plenty of suspects to keep me and you- guessing. In the small town of Hawick Falls, Kara Linn is the first girl to go missing. Using a blog and his newspaper column, Vic Taylor, her uncle, the editor of the newspaper, struggles to keep her name in the limelight. He felt the authorities were not doing enough to find Kara. Then Lisa Grant disappears. The monster doesnt know it, but he stepped in it this time. Lisa was abandoned by her parents when she was two and had come to live with Sophia. Because of her rebellious nature, the question did arise ~ could she have run away? Teagan Raynes, her guardian, knows she did not run away. Teagan was going to adopt her, so why would she disappear now? Something terrible had to have happened. I cant imagine the thoughts going through her mind. Feelings of guilt. Teagan could relate to Lisa, because she had grown up on the streets with her crazy mom, until coming to her Aunt Sophias at seven years old. Teagan had left town to make her own way in the world, but returned to take care of Sophia when she became ill. Now that she was gone, it was up to Teagan to care for Lisa. Teagans insecurities kept her from having a long term relationship with men. Her mother had taught her to trust no one and it took a long time to earn her trust. Still, she held something back. Her mother had also taught her to shoot a gun and Teagan is an expert shot with her .38 Special. Now that got my attention. I do like a strong female protagonist and I want to see her take this psycho dirtbag down. Travis, her boyfriend had the same kind of background. Will they be drawn together or torn apart? Detective Noah Cassidy had lost his wife and child in a boating accident. His mother left home when he was just a child and his father was a drunk. He was determined to be the opposite of his father ~ he would do right by others. Teagan liked the safe feeling she had when Noah was around. He had an air of self assurance and confidence. Their attraction was mutual, but they fought to control it. I was happy that Nora took the time for Teagan and Noah to get to know each other in a slow growing relationship. This may be considered a spoiler, but I believe we all knew that this would happen, so I don't think so. That is why Travis; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Passing through Perfect: Family Saga (A Wyattsville Novel Book 3) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Bette Lee Crosby Page; Review: I would like to start with the cover. Bette Lee Crosbys cover gives you a glimpse of the story inside. Her sweet, southern charm comes through the pages and wraps around me with loving arms. Passing Through Perfect brought forth so many emotions that I kept my tissues at my side. That is not unusual for a Bette Lee novel. With each novel in the Wyattsville series I say it is the best, but the best one is the next one. The story includes chapters of the characters thoughts and feelings Benjamin, Delia, Camella, Sidney and Marthas. We get an up close and personal invitation to share their lives. The characters had me crying for them, yelling for them, wanting to protect and shelter them from all the harsh realities of life. The story takes place in Grinders Corner, a small town in Alabama. Benjamin Church came home from war, to see nothing had changed. Benjamin had thought of being a mechanic. He had learned to repair almost anything mechanical during his time in the service. This is a time in history where the shift was from working for yourself to working for someone else. But, he knew he would be a farmer like his father and his father before him. He is a sharecroppers son and the world did not look kindly on blacks in 1946. The landowner, Sylvester Crane, is a sorry excuse for a human being. Benjamens dad struggles after the loss of his wife. Sometimes when a mate dies, the other person is not far behind. Do they lose their will to live? Everything in Grinders Corner is the same for Benjamin, until he lays eyes on Delia. Delia is a preachers daughter. Her father heads the New Unity Church. She has a zest for life and it was love at first sight for Benjamin. I guess we can see where this is going. He courted her in the proper manner, with courtesy and respect. Bens love is strong, gentle and true. The preacher had a holier than thou attitude and looked down his nose at Benjamin. He didn't think Benjamin was good enough for his Delia. Dont a lot of parents think that way, even if their child is grown? Our kids are always our kids and we want the best for them. On the other hand, as kids, our parents are our heroes. You made your bed, now lie in it. Have you ever heard those words? Bettes descriptions of the simplest things brings the times and people to life, their sorrow and pain, their joy and happiness. I can picture Benjamin standing in front of the deputy with his weather beaten straw hat in hand and his eyes looking down at the floor. Bette talks about the sun and heat of the south. If you have not experienced it, you will find it hard to feel the intensity of the suns rays as they beat down on you, the thickness of the muggy air as you struggle to draw breath and the fact that you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dragons Don't Love: Dragon Shifter Romance (Fire Chronicles New Adult Paranormal Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's D'Elen McClain Page; Review: I am ecstatic to be able to share Book II of the Fire Chronicles, Laryns stoy by DElen McClain. This is one of the best dragon series I have ever read. I could not put it down. Dragons Dont Love is an adult tale of romance and love that flows smoothly from the pages. Laryn had been alone for 25 years, now it was his turn to claim his new bride. The symbiotic relationship the curse placed on both dragons and humans was misunderstood by both of them, but because of the dragons love of their brides, they are constantly learning more about them. Laryn first meets Roxanne when she ends up on his back, trying to kill him. Silly human. She cant hurt a dragon. Laryn is stubborn and brings a lot of suffering onto himself, but that is the way of dragons and their pride. He has never been know for his gentleness with his new brides, but when he meets his warrior woman, Roxanne, he marvels at her desire to fight side by side with him. I love the cat and mouse game Laryn plays with Roxanne as he attempts to seduce her, but Dragons Dont Love and he fights his feelings for her. Dragons love to steal others treasures and a trip is made to Earth, where we find vampires, shapeshifters and an athlete named Tiger. LOL Thought that was great for some laughs. Their relationship grows and develops, from acting like a couple of kids having temper tantrums, to adults learning to love and live together. The characters personalities shine through making me love them all, especially Ashrac. Who doesnt love a baby dragon? The writing and dialogue had me hanging on DElens words. At times it was humorous, other times sad, yet other times so very touching. After Dragons Dont Cry, I knew where this story was going, but I am still amazed at the ride, reading page after page, unable to put it down until the last word was read. I hated it to end. NextSarns story, Dragons Dont Forgive. I think there may be a new twist in this one and I am very eager to find out. I received this book in return for an honest review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Constricted (Flawed #1.5): A Flawed Short Story - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Becca J. Campbell Page; Review: Logan is a loner for some good reasons. He feels claustrophobic when he is surrounded my people. His problem with excess hair is easily dealt with by frequent shaving and haircuts. But, Jade, knew the whole truth and he couldn't stop thinking about her. His idea of camping now includes water and electricity - mine includes a pool and room service. LOL Sometimes, Logan's personality bothers me. He can seem kinda wimpy. One minute I have empathy for him, the next I want to smack him upside the head and tell him to man up. :-) Jade is the girl you would love to have for a best friend. But, Becca added an element, the rich bitch, that makes me want to read the rest of the series even more than I did before. I am very interested in the additional "love interest" that is sure to mess up Logan's life even more. I received Constricted from Becca J Campbell in return for an honest review.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Celeste Files: Unlocked (Book 1 Psychic C.O.R.E.) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kristine Mason Page; Review: I am always eager to get my hands on another Kristine Mason novel and have met Celeste before, in Shadow of Danger (Book 1 CORE Shadow Trilogy) (CORE shadow triology). These books stand alone, but I think once you read one, you will want to read them all, so might as well start at the beginning, with the C.O.R.E Shadow Trilogy, three books in one. Or start with Celeste, the first novel in Celestes very own series. Kristine Mason caught me off guard. Fanfrickingtastic from the very first page. She is very good at grabbing my attention and keeping it, from the opening page to the closing page. Her pacing and suspense is superb. She had me sitting on the edge of my seat, and with each new book her writing amazes all over again. Celeste is a psychic, she has premonitions. The dead like to talk to her. Does this enable her to change the future or just get answers for something that has already happened? Her mother had been a psychic, but was in denial. Would Olivia, her daughter, be one too? Her father is Ian, who founded C.O.R.E., a private investigative agency. She had used her abilities to help in investigations, but she hasn't had any visions in two years. She is married to John, who doesnt understand her psychic abilities but loves her completely. She has a fourteen month old baby and loves being a mom. She quit working for C.O.R.E. and opened a bakery, the Sugar Shack. (Great name, Kristine. Brings forth good memories and leaves a song reverberating through my mind.) All the characters are of a type, each special and talented in their own way. I have come to think of them as my family. They have all the problems you and I have, plus some extras. John wants one thing and Celeste wants another, so where is the compromise between two professionals raising a baby and wanting another. Who will care for the children while they are working? Communication is always the key. Sometimes our perceptions can be wrong. Celestes psychic gifts return. She does not know how they will reconcile Johns dislike of her gift, so she keeps it a secret from him. What price will she pay when he finds out? NOW, it has become imperative she discover all her abilities and learn to control them, not let them control her. Danger surrounds her. She needs help. I loved that Maxine, the woman who would be her mentor, has a unicorn room. I used to collect unicorns and have them scattered throughout my home. Kristine seems to hit all my buttons. :-) Kelly, her friends mom dies, but her vision showed her something, something that kept nagging at her, not letting her go. She couldn't quite grasp what had happened. Have you been trying to think of something and it hovers just out of your grasp? Have you found your mind going round and round, refusing to be shut off? Mine does all the time. ' Celeste goes into trances that are; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hunter (Guy Erma and the Son of Empire Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Sally Ann Melia Page; Review: Spoiler Alert: Even though Hunter is Part Two of the Guy Erma and the Son of Empire series, I have tried to keep my comments general to keep from giving away any of the goodies contained between the pages. Hunter is Part Two of the Guy Erma and the Son of Empire series. If you are a fan of action and adventure with some science fiction thrown in, this is a series for you. Each book picks up where the other left off. I loved Kidnap, Part One, so much, that I grabbed Hunter and started to read as soon as the package arrived. I have watched movies that enable me to visualize the world Sally Ann Melia has created with her detailed and descriptive writing. Also, the artwork by Sally Dickson will help you see things as they really are, whether it be a character or one of the creatures. We have a Dome, flying discs, fashion shows and models, cysects, poison pills, borgs and so much more. There is political intrigue, betrayal, telepathy, thought control, even a telepathic shapeshifter that you better keep your eye on. Sometimes your enemy will be your friend and ally, so do not be too quick to judge. Would a romance among an unlikely pair save the Dome? I love the world of Freyna that Sally Ann Melia has created. The characters, even though they are young, are brave and heroic. Even the bad ones are well developed and end up winning me over, except for the evil.well, I don't want to spoil anything so I will leave it to you to find out. Sally Ann Melias imaginative and descriptive writing describing the fight is amazing and I couldn't put the book down until the last word was read. I have the next one, Part Three, Exile, and I want to pick it up right now, but it is late and tomorrow is another day. My only complaint, Hunter seemed to start out a bit slow, but the ending was fantastic! I received Hunter by Sally Ann Melia in return for an honest review. To see more, stop in to fundinmenal at: [url]; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Perfectly Twisted (Book 1 C.O.R.E. Above the Law) (C.O.R.E. Series) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kristine Mason Page; Review: Are you curious about the snake on the cover? You should be! I LOVE it. With each novel Kristine Mason writes, her creativity and imagination shines brighter. Perfectly Twisted is a perfect title for this romantic suspense thriller. I don't know how Kristine produces such brilliantly written novels that should be at the top of any thriller list, but I am glad to have found her and be able to share her with you. The story is not for the faint of heart and I would highly recommend it to adult readers. The Reverend uses his position for his own wickedly evil purposes, him and his son laugh at the gullibility of the congregation they serve. The things they do are so horrendous they defy description by me, a lowly reader. I wonder how Kristine comes up with her storylines and makes them so believable. The Above The Law CORE group operates on the edge, keeping a low profile and dealing with situations that may cross the line. Lola, Ryan, Harrison, Vlad, Mel and Barney walk a fine line but believe in doing the right thing. It's just sometimes the right thing requires more than the law allows. Each member is chosen for their particular expertise and function as a fine tuned instrument. They are as close as any family could be. I love Kristine's ability to make her characters come alive on the pages. I fall in love with her powerful, yet loving male characters. Her male protagonists are to die for and they would gladly do it for their brave and courageous women partners. Her female characters I want for my best friends. Perfectly Twisted's romantic couple being spotlighted are Shane and Beth. I feel for Shane who paid for a crime that never would have happened if he wasn't in the wrong place at the wrong time. Deputy Beth Price risks her job to be with him. Little does she realize his dalliance with the law is just the tip of the iceberg. Kristine Mason's characters are complex. You will find that you either love them or hate them, root for them or root against them, and sometimes pray at the end some of them no longer walk the earth. After reading Perfectly Twisted, I can't help but wonder how many perverted and depraved sickos run around at any give time? The question in Perfectly Twisted is how many sickos are operating in the same place at the same time. Is there more than one? Is there a copycat? The game of cat and mouse is afoot. Who will be left standing? The sweet and sexy banter has a humorous flavor even during the horror. I never used to be much of a romance fan, but Kristine Mason is one of the amazing authors I have found that I cannot help but let the love, romance and passion wash over me while I swoon and drown in it. The sexual situations read as romance and passion more than just the physical act. You may have played strip poker, but; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Tinfoil Hat of My Own: A Tale of Friendship, Bikers, and Werewolves - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Echo Shea Page; Review: I love the title and cover for A Tinfoil Hat Of My Own by Echo Shea. Not only did she write this super short, but she created the fabulous cover too. Eunice should know better than to walk in the isolated part of the park. After all, it is very possible that her ex boyfriends biker club may come after her for what she did to them. There are screams, a bite, she runs, but doesn t get far. Thank God for Billy Joe. Got 5 or 10 minutes, check out this fun and quirky supernatural tale. I think the title shows that the story will not be all blood and guts, but smiles and laughter with the light hearted and comical writing. Sometimes I find it hard to write a review for a story so short, 23 Kindle pages, without giving too much away. That being said, I find it amazing that Echo Shea could pack so much into such a small place. I read this four times and liked it better each time. I received a copy of A Tinfoil Hat Of My Own by Echo Shea in return for an honest and unbiased review.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Perfectly Toxic (Book 2 C.O.R.E. Above the Law) (C.O.R.E. Series) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kristine Mason Page; Review: Perfectly Toxic by Kristine Mason is a thriller that stars Melanie Scarlet. I love the CORE and am so excited to finally read Mels story. The language and sex scenes are pivotal to the story and I think Kristine handled them well. I think I broke her. With a start like that, I knew I was in for a horrific ride into the twisted psyche of Adeline. I can hardly wait to dive into all the creepiness to come, and I know there will be plenty of it. As I read along, mini movies played in my head. When I was done reading, I felt like I needed to take a shower. Well, what can I say about Perfectly Toxic. I had three pages of notes, but it just wasn't working for me. SoI tossed them out and here I am, just telling you about my feelings about this, hmmm, horrifying thriller and the sadistic, psychopathic, crazy as a loon villain, Adeline and her cohort, Rodney. I laugh at Frankenstein. that was a comedy compared to what these two were up to. What they were doing goes so far past that, I am finding it difficult to put into words the events in Perfectly Toxic. The lives lost and the torture suffered under their hands remind me of the evil men behind human testing during the holocaust. Both of them belong under the jail, not in it. The most repulsive thing of all, Adeline revels in it. She loves to watch her toys squirm. There is nothing she won't do to get what she wants. Feelingswhat are those? She sure doesnt have any warm and fuzzy ones. She is ice cold and beware, to be near her could be hazardous to your health. She is very smart, well educated, manipulative and broken. Something is very wrong with her. OMG, she is not just a psycho, she is bat s*** crazy and evil beyond words. I love all the CORE characters, but I can relate well to Mel, an a** kicking, swamp raised, don't look at me cross eyed kind of gal. She is the Ice Cream lady. Shis is also a cleaner. You need something to disappear, just contact Mel. She hides her girlie girlness behind a really sharp knife. Shes the type to stab you with the knife, then cook dinner with it. She is married to Cash, but it doesnt seem to be going so well. They are both stubborn and have strong personalities. She hangs with men more than women and I do that too. I love that she goes to the dock when she has heavy thinking to do. The water calms her and it has the same effect on me. I have spent many a day Sitting on the Dock of the Baywasting time. Mels cousin, Bobby turns up missing and the mystery begins. When Mel takes Harrison to meet Cash for help, the scenario could be hazardous to Harrisons heath, but it is laughable. The whos d*** is bigger scenario had me cracking up. Cashs mantra; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hurricane Crimes (Disaster Crimes Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Chrys Fey Page; Review: I live in Florida, so anything to do with a hurricane interests me. I have been through more than one hurricane, but unlike Beth in Hurricane Crimes, I have not been through a Category 5 hurricane like Sabrina. As if the storm isn't enough, there is a murderer on the loose. The evacuation order had been given, but Beth had nowhere to go and no way to get there, so she stocked up on necessities and hunkered down to weather it out. As she watched the storm out her window, she saw the car slam into the tree. Of course, she had to go out and check on the driver. What would you have done? Its not necessarily the wind and water that will kill you, but the blowing debris. As the power struggled to stay on, she heard, Donovan Goldwyn murder suspect. Uh oh, he was here, in her home. What would you do? Its almost like you have no choice but to play along. There is no one to help, no one to call, no one Would the storm affect your emotions and your libidothe danger, the adrenaline, the fear of death. Chrys had me on a seesaw, yes hes a murderer, no hes not, yes he is, no he isnt. Chrys Fey does an excellent job describing Hurricane Sabrina and the destruction it brings in its wake. The ending is fantastic and I would wait out a hurricane with you, Chrys, any time. This little novella has it all. A gorgeous cover, a captivating title, a hot guy and a not so defenseless woman stranded in a category five hurricane. I picked this up on an Amazon free day and considered myself lucky.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Of Ocean and Ash - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's A.R. Draeger Page; Review: I love the cover for Of Ocean and Ash by A R Draeger. It told me what I would find inside, a mermaid able to live on land and sea, and I think that is important. The mermaid fantasy is lived out in the 1700s, during the time of slavery on a Caribbean island, an original and unique slant to a familiar storyline. Ias life started out ugly, most would say, but she didn't see it that way. She never would have found Mother, otherwise. Even through all the pain, doubt and abuse, Ia stayed pure in heart. She had found him and knew that was where she was supposed to be. Politics, savagery, slavery, abuse and rape occur in the mer world, just as they do in the human world. This 136 paperback of Of Ocean and Ash by A R Draegar does not disappoint. I have not read a mer book like this and loved that A R Draegar gave us a new twist on an old story, which is difficult to do. Most stories have been told many times, just the details are changed. Of Ocean and Ash holds a lot in a small package, a romance that surpasses all boundaries and ends with a happy ever after. Isnt that what we all want, a HEA, though the journey to get there was sometimes ugly. Some of the peripheral characters shown through in their ability to give, even when the only thing they had to give of was themselves. My only complaint is I wanted Of Ocean and Ash by A R Draeger to be longer, more detailed and developed. I think A R Draeger could have brought me to my knees, but, alas, there was that something special missing. Needless to say, read this book if you love fantasy. I believe it will leave you wanting more, just like me. I received a copy of Of Ocean and Ash by A R Draeger in return for an honest and unbiased review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Money Run (Lou Malloy Crime Series Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's J. Frank James Page; Review: I started Lou Malloys story in the novella, The Run Begins. It is an introduction into Lous character and not necessary to read before Dead Money Run by J Frank James. Lou has a quick temper and a chip on his shoulder. He is rough and tough, but principled, in his own twisted way. On an impulse, he left the small town he grew up in and that is how he began his Dead Money Run. Dead Money is money that is gotten illegally and has been laundered, whether from drugs, prostitution Lou was being released from prison for stealing 15 million dollars from a casino that is owned by the mob. He has no family left since the murder of his sister and he wants her killer. The mystery leads him in a direction he didn't see coming. There are layers of criminals and mysteries. Lou is a bad guy and nothing can change that. Have you ever read a book where there really is no good guy, just different levels of bad, brutal, crossing and double crossing villains? When Lou teams up with Hilary, I find myself rooting for this Bonnie & Clyde couple. Dead Money Run is a convoluted and tangled web. When the pieces are put together, the puzzle was not what I thought it would be and I am delighted. I like when the answers are not obvious and I want more of this tough, just as soon shoot you as look at you lead character and his moll. If blood and guts noir mysteries are on your reading list, this is one you will want to add. I received a copy of Dead Money Run by J Frank James in return for an honest and unbiased review.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rain of Ash: A Zyne Witch Urban Fantasy (Skydancer Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Gwen Mitchell Page; Review: Rain of Ash by Gwen Mitchell is a paranormal and supernatural tale of a curse, a legacy and Briana Spurrier, the Skydancer that will be called upon to defeat the demon. The story has been told before good magic vs bad magic, but I lost myself in the fantasy world of demons, legacies, magic, danger and death created by Gwen Mitchell. Briana had left her home, her passion the piano and her desire to be a concert pianist drove her to deny her heritage. But, the curse and her legacy was not be denied. When a disaster brought her home, she was at a disadvantage. She did not know the danger lurking at every turn. Regrets, sure, she had plenty. Her powers had been bound, but even before she returned it was pushing through, entering her life and refusing to be denied candles light on their own, doors close by themselves, precognition, psychic echoes, regressions, astral visits makes me think of Charmed and Supernatural, a couple of TV shows all paranormal lovers like me know about. Kean, it was as if his life restarted when she returned. But there was also Eric, who was in her real piano world. And Lucas, from a long ago past that she fought to forget. So I guess you could call this a quadrangle, but there is really only oneI think. :-) I love Astrid, her best friend. Briana had thought she would hold a grudge because of abrupt departure, but it was almost as if they had never left. If you have ever had a best friend that lives far away, you will know what I mean. Distance and time make no difference, each time you meet it is if no one had every left. The three friends band together and decide to form their own coven. The accidents are not accidents and they are determined to find the answers. They must plead their case before the council. The magic world has its own set of rules and punishment. They cannot be allowed to run AMOK. There were a couple of ceremonies that made me think of scenes on Supernatural where they slash their palm, squeeze the dripping blood into the cup and drink it. Yuck. The fading (orbing) made me think of Charmed. I am liking the new coven, their backbone, confidence, strength and determination. The Soul Eater comes for Geri and the battle goes into overdrive. I can picture the fight from watching Charmed and Supernatural. The Soul Eater is deformed, a hunched, winged fanged, powerful demon able to raze a house and shred human flesh. It revels in the pain and anguish wreaked by its fangs and claws. I love all the magic, the tension and pacing drawing me in. As the demons and witches, goblins and werewolves, Oracles and Soul Eater begin the battle for the relic and Brianna, I find myself wondering who will survive. Who will die? How many? Gwen is not afraid to kill off her characters in a brutal, horrific, gruesome way. Rain of Ash started out; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Living Sand - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Anthony Renfro Page; Review: Grandfather is sitting on the porch, entertaining the boys with stories. As he told the true story of The Living Sand, the boys were spellbound. Imagine, if you will, entering a portal and onto the most beautiful beach you have ever seen. Everything is so bright and vibrant, but where are the people? I thought this would be the end, but it was only the beginning. If you are tempted to go to the beach on the night of the full moon, you might want to think twice. I was sucked in, misdirected and totally fooled by this wicked tale of daring or foolishness. So, enter, if you dare and you decide.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Baad Dog; Brand: Visit Amazon's Sal Conte Page; Review: I was excited to receive the ARC for Baad Dog by Sal Conte. It has such a cute cover, but beware, this is a horror novel, so I know it will be baad. What I am wondering is how Harry got into the situation he is in in the opening chapter. Its like a B movie playing in my head. He had lots of warning, why didn't he listen and face the facts, as unbelievable as they are. I loved the opening pages and knew this was going to be a unique and original story. It creeped me out and I smiled in anticipation. Harry didn't know why he walked into the store, or why he allowed the salesman to talk him into buying a dog, and a mechanical dog at that. I could sense a problem as soon as Queenie met Harrys wife, Pam. Kinda gives me the creeps, AI, artificial intelligence. It is food for thought. Do you believe it is possible? Do you want it to be possible? Harry wrote TV shows and maybe he would have been better off if he would have written this one. He could have become rich. Instead, he had money troubles. As a distraction, he thought a trip to the cabin in the woods was in order. Oh yeah, this will be good. The nerves rippling her gut told her to turn back. Then do it, damn it. Dont open the door, don't got in there! Oh no, shes going to the basement. We all know that is never a good thing, but I too, saw no other option. Queenie is like the energizer bunny, she keeps going & going Loved the ending. I so much want to tell you more, but you will have to read to find out for yourself. If you want to be scared at hidden noises around you, at doors opening and closing, at rustling in the bushesthis is a book for you. I received Baad Dog by Sal Conte in return for an honest and unbiased review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mutation Z; Brand: Visit Amazon's Marilyn Peake Page; Review: The story continues and gets more horrific with every page. The monsters are not only zombies, but so is humanity when it lets fear take over. In the opening scene, I breathed a sigh of relief when I felt the Dixon family dodged a bullet. Well Hunter Morgan, the journalist striving to expose the truth of the zombies, has an emergency of his own. The disease does not care if you are young or old, good or bad. It is spreading and Hunter smells the RATS. His suspicions are growing and so are mine. As the story develops, Marilyn Peake breaks my heart. Not everyone can live, I know that! But, damn it, why Fear can make people do things they never anticipated. Zealots, hunters, and their victims. Who is good and who is bad? I think stories like Mutation Z are food for thought. I always wonder what I would do if my life were threatened and I had to take action. Would I? Would you? And would it be the right kind of action. Would fear drive me? Would I sacrifice others for my own? The Mutation Z series is a must read for horror and dystopian lovers everywhere. The story grows better and better with each novella. I received a copy of Mutation Z: Protecting Our Own by Marilyn Peake in return for an honest review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WHEN MURDER CALLS - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Emelle Gamble Page; Review: Mystery, murders, a single woman with two small children struggling to finish school and create a better life for her and her kids, a hot looking man wanting to share that life, what more could we want in a cozy? A serial killer is on the loose from the opening pages. I love serial killers. Several suspects pop up early, but I keep thinking they are too obvious. The suspense was slow boiling, but Emelle kept me guessing and the pacing picked up as I neared the end. When Murder Calls by Emelle Gamble is one of those of books where I would think its over, then something else would happen, then I would think its over, then something else would happenThe action and suspense continued into the last pages. It would have liked to have more of an ending, but I know all I need to know and I am good with that.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mutation Z; Brand: Visit Amazon's Marilyn Peake Page; Review: The Mutation Z series is a post apocalyptic look at life after zombies. Emma Johnson is a spoiled, rich kid who sets off the adventure of a lifetime, as a volunteer nurse in Africa. The Ebola crisis is so much more than she could have ever imagined. Dr. Gustavo Tovar is the tour guide for the new recruits. She picked up bad vibes from him, but shook them off. He stressed the necessity of never wandering off on their own. With such a highly infectious disease, they must proceed with extreme caution. Something struck me wrong from the very beginning. The creep factor was running on high. This conspiracy, horror novella scared the bejesus out of me. It started out fast and never let up. Every time I turned around, something was there to creep me out. I mean, think about it, a highly infectious disease is lurking, just waiting for you to make a mistake. A conspiracy is operating behind closed doors and when Emma stumbles in there is no turning back. I love this series and would highly recommend it to all horror lovers. If Zombies are your thing, Mutation Z, Book I is free on Amazon.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mutation Z; Brand: Visit Amazon's Marilyn Peake Page; Review: Emma is now part of the experiment to create a zombie army. It wasn't bad enough for her in Book I, now she has traveled to the furthest reaches of HELL and knows it. In NYC, journalist Hunter Morgan smells a rat when Chen-Zamora Pharmaceuticals gets an exclusive government contract to develop the Ebola vaccine. I mean, wouldnt they want competition? Why an exclusive contract? Corruption? Conspiracy? Greed? And why was he given such easy access to a crime scene? The scene with Hunter and his daughter is so sweet. Marilyn Peake has an ability to make her characters come to life, human and zombie alike. Hunter gets more involved and could be making the biggest mistake of his life or becoming the savior of the planet. Imagine being aware of turning into a zombie, aware of your shambling walk, bumping and jostling each other, your skin falling off in sheets, and the worst of all Can a shred of humanity remain? Mutation Z is gross, horrific, outrageous, infuriating, corruptingheads are cracked open, entrails pulled from shredded abdomens, body after body, young and old alike. I am so into Mutation Z, I am wringing my hands with an evil grin on my face as Marilyn Peake tells me Mutation Z: Protecting Your Own, Book III, has just come out and I can have a copy for review. YAY!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nightlight Tales: A Collection of Horror Short Stories - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Anthony Renfro Page; Review: 13 tales of terror. 13 tales that will have you reaching for the nightlight before you go to bed tonight. If you want to be afraid, I mean very afraid, of the night, a dark country road, a drag race, vampires and werwolves, the beachwell, Anthony Renfro covers them all. Dont turn out the lights, do snuggle up with a friend and get ready for a wild ride.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Artwork of Guy Erma and the Son of Empire; Brand: Visit Amazon's Sally Ann Melia Page; Review: The Artwork of Guy Erma is a wonderful collaboration bringing Sally Melia's visions to life. The chapters are divided into a illustrations for the dome and the individual characters. Freyne is a world that was brought forth from Sally's imagination, so to see it visually come to life on the pages was fun and interesting. Not everything matched my preconceived notions. I drew many of my visions from Star Wars and other movie and TV shows I have watched. The 1st chapter is about the Dome. My vision was pretty accurate, but it was hard to imagine how huge it was. This chapter helped put it into perspective. Teodor of Freyne and Goran Rider - His clothing fits what I had in mind as I read the book, along the lines of a jockey. The uniform is white. And the Goran... I love the Goran and the illustration is like I pictured the critter. To be with Teodor in the story, riding the Goran into battle was exciting. Guy Erma, Blade Fighter. His uniform is black. The illustrations convey action and allows me to see his movements and how he wields his blades. Karl Valvanchi, what can I say about Karl Valvanchi. I looked into his eyes when he used his telekinetic powers. He reminds me of Carlisle in Twilight. He has an air of sophistication. Nells Valvanchi is a shapeshifter. I like that her hair matches her outfits. She looks like any teenage girl you would meet today. Chart Sayat is the head of the Dome Elite, a politician going through all the machinations to be reelected. He looks the part, smug and arrogant. The cyborgs are just as wicked as I imagined and I sure wouldn't want to meet up with one. The wonderful covers for Guy Erma create a brand that is easily recognizable and look great on anybody's bookshelf. I have never reviewed an illustrated book before, but I have read the trilogy and loved it, so to meet the cast of characters and the scene of the adventure, I was happy to follow along. Not all of the characters fit my preconceived vision, but that is okay. That is why this was so much fun to read. I loved seeing what I had right and what I had wrong. I found it interesting how the team collaborated and brought Sally's imagination to the printed page. The Artwork of Guy Erma is a part of the Guy Erma series I was happy to add to my collection.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Running Free (Woodland Creek) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's K Webster Page; Review: I am a Dobie lover, so just seeing the cover for Running Free by K Webster made this a must read for me. I am so very glad she is the Dobie shifter. I love the supernatural and paranormal world, so lets see whats happening in Woodland Creek, Indiana. Frankie is a 12 year old foster kid, a coming of age young girl who is driven to Run Free. Its ten years later and the only person she cares about is an owl shifter named Otis. At least that is what she tells herself. OtisHe is the dad she never had. She wears a collar with a bitch tag. Love it! Its special touches like the tag that takes a novel to an extra level for me. Frankie has the power of intimidation and a very protective nature towards the people that matter to her. Detective Gunnar Mason has come to investigate Aceys disappearance. He is one of the rescued that Frankie was looking out for. She is a badass, but kids are her weakness. She goes out of her way to help them. She finds them in animal shelters, where she had spent some time herself. I couldn't help but smile and chuckle about that. I wonderif her and Gunnar were to get together, what would they have? Humans or puppies? LOL There is so much about Running Free that I loved and would like to share, but I am afraid of giving too much away. I love that Frankie thinks of her new family as the Brainless Horny Idiot Pace. I love the witty and snarky dialogue that creates a tension felt through the written word. I love all the different types of shifters we have owls, dogs, wolves, bears, tigers, swans, even a mouse. There is imprinting. Can you imprint on a mouse? I would love to tell you more about a couple of the shifters, but it is well worth your time to find out about them yourself. I finished reading the book through teary eyes for the tragic/heartwarming end. A fabulous fantasy of shifters, love, sacrifice and a misplaced sense of revenge. The writing evoked a gamut of emotions, from anger and rage to sorrow and heartbreak to fun and laughter. And I LOVED every minute of it. LOL My only complaint isI WANT MORE and I want it now! I received a copy of Running Free by K Webster in return for an honest review. To see more visit [url]; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Torment Of Rachel Ames (Kindle Single) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jeff Gunhus Page; Review: She had two options forward or back. Against her better judgment, onward it is. Is she running away from something or toward something? I love Rachels morbid sense of humor and hope it will carry her through what is to come. I couldn't help but laugh out loud when she flipped off Underwood. Her destination the cabin. The ramshackle condition of the cabin is a perfect setting for what is to come. John, the landlord is there to greet her. Granger and Ollie share his warnings. Are they good? Are they evil? I don't know. Weird things are happening. Are they out of this world? Is it real? Is it only in her nightmares? I feel horror and deep sorrow for her. If it were in your power to erase your worst memory, would you? Great ending. As I saw it unraveling, I couldn't help but smile. Is it supernatural? Are there devils and demons? Yes, but not in the way you may think. Jeff Gunhus set me up and led me down the path. His ability to spin a tale that keeps me hanging on his every word is right up there with the best of them. I read this in a couple of hours. Once I started, I couldn't stop. I received a copy of The Torment of Rachel Ames by Jeff Gunhus in return for an honest review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Come to the Cemetery; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jackson Dean Chase Page; Review: Come to the Cemetery by Jackson Dean Chase is a ghostly tale of love and revenge. WellI will tell youDONT GO INTO THE CEMETERY. It could be hazardous to your health. ~~~ All Caras friends are dropping dead and are found in the cemetery. Her parents said she would be okay. YEAH. RIGHT. Is she cursed? Would she be next? She didn't shy away from the problem and went looking for answers. I like her gumption and determination. Jake, thank God for Jake and his love for her. A scary short story that tells me don't listen to the voices from the beyond. I will think twice before making love in the cemetery, especially on a grave. I enjoyed this ghostly tale of a misguidedor evil?love. The story is predictable, but scary with a romance and mystery.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: STRANGER THAN FICTION - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Emelle Gamble Page; Review: Claire had the feeling something was wrongand she was right. Claire is a buyer at a publishing house. Mr Harrison, her boss, sent her to investigate an accusation that a book they were getting ready to publish had been stolen, printed under another name. The dreaded wordplagiarism has reared its ugly head. Claire considered herself boring, but to me she was one of us. You know, we are not rich, nor are we famous. We are just the average Joe helping the world go round. We all have a life and living it is not always exciting or adventurous. The mystery grows the more I read. Im not sure which characters are good or bad. Emelle Gamble is not giving me many clues to help me either, but I did know who the killer was early on. Thats okay, its all about the journey for me. Hmmmcould we have the beginnings of a romance? I think so. But, is the player being played? Their affection in the office almost made me burst out in laughter. Love it. The suspense is there and I am afraid for Claire. My only complaint is that when the suspense built, the pacing would slow, interrupting the flow.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Happy Homicides 2: Thirteen Cozy Mysteries (Crimes of the Heart) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Joanna Campbell Slan Page; Review: Happy Homicides is jam packed with funfilled stories for you cozy mystery lovers out there. I enjoyed spending time with the quirky characters and some lovable critters, all while solving the murders committed by some not so lovable villains. The writing is light and at times humorous. The authors have a knack for entertaining, creating smiles and romance at every turn. If you are looking for clean and light romance and mystery, this may be a book you want to add to your reading list. I received a copy of Happy Homicides in return for an honest review.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mutation Z; Brand: Visit Amazon's Marilyn Peake Page; Review: Mutation Z: Drones Overhead by Marilyn Peake is the fourth novella in this zombie series that had me feeling like upchucking one minute and kicking a** the next. Journalist Hunter Morgan awoke in McAllen, Texas, and remembered the massacre. As he raged, tearing apart the cell he had been placed in, they shot him with a tranquilizer dartbut there is a ray of hope and it is more important than ever he survive. The virus is reaching epidemic proportions and a madman is running the Zombie Hunters. The situation becomes more dangerous. Isolated and housebound, they plot their next course of action. They had to stop THEM before the situation reached an apocalypse, wiping out humanity. Can it be stopped? Is it already too late? With governments running AMOK, the media spewing lies and terror, the zombie population growing and the attempt to stop them reaching a level of savagery nobody could have foreseen, the clock is ticking and time is running out. Maybe it is was me, but I didn't feel the level of urgency that I felt leading up to #4. Maybe because, in Drones Overhead, we cover details of how they stay hidden, what they do to disguise themselves, and planning what comes next. We cant be running willy nilly or no one will survive. Needless to say, I can hardly wait to read Mutation Z: Dragon in the Bunker, #5. The title alone makes me think something even more terrible is going to go wrong (if such a thing is possible) and I want to be there! I received a copy of Mutation Z: Drones Overhead by Marilyn Peake in return for an honest review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Celeste Files: Unjust (Book 2 Psychic C.O.R.E.) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kristine Mason Page; Review: I recommend Celeste Unjust for adults. I have read all Kristine Masons romantic suspense novels and I love her writing. It keeps me hanging on the edge of my seat. So Celeste and the Psychic CORE series are must reads for me. The action begins from the opening words and she does not let me go until the last one is read. Celeste is a Ghost Whisperer. She has all the problems of us normals, plus the added stress and danger of the ghosts refusing to let her ignore them. Bad or good, she must acknowledge their presence. Her prior experience let her fearful, wondering if she would survive her next encounter. Familiar characters appear and I am happy to see them. Not just for me, but for Celeste too. She will need all the expertise of the Above The Law CORE gang. The cover may lull you into feeling this will be just a nice little ghost story, but the true horror begins on their vacation to the Everglades and catches a dead body. Kristine Mason does not miss a beat in her venture into the paranormal and supernatural genre. I have come to expect evil, savage villains and this is a horror of the supernatural kind, where the evil literally seeps under Celestes skin, threatening not only her life, but her husbands and all those around her. Celeste Unjust is a horror of a ghost story of possession by an evil man accused of murder and human trafficking. The pacing and suspense kept me dancing on my toes. Just when I thought I had all the answers, she did this Kristine even got me at the very end and I cannot help but smile at a job WELL DONE! I rub my hands will glee as I anticipate Celeste Unforgotten, Book III of the Psychic CORE series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Infiltrator (Siren of Secrets series Book 3) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Demelza Carlton Page; Review: Recommended for Adults. Lots of hot and steamy sex scenes. Oceans Gift, Book I, made me teary eyed as I was left with the most awful cliffhanger imaginable for a mermaid story. Alonein the seawatching her human sail away. Oceans Infiltrator by Demelza Carlton is Book II of the Oceans Gift series and I am so happy to find out if Sirena (Vanessa is her human name) will have a happy ever after or kill her human. What would she dosend a Hitfish to take him out? I couldn't help but laugh! The Oceans Gift series carries a message along with the fantasy. Sirena (Vanessa) is the Oceans Infiltrator, doing her best to warn humankind of the damage being done to the oceans and seas. Now the question continue to help the humans or let them die? She travels between the ocean and land, making the transition easily. On land she is a Harley riding bad***. She is very much her own woman funny, a tease, a lover, a mommy, a leader, and a mermaid the complete fantasy package. Joe and Vanessa cannot keep their hands off each other. They are soulmates, fins and all. Do you want to know how mermaids have sex? Well, you will learn more than you ever thought to ask, in Oceans Infiltrator. The sexual tension between Vanessa and Joe steam up my Kindle, love and romance oozing off the pages, making it too hot to handle. My only complaint is sometimes I thought the sex was there, just for sexs sake, but maybe mermaids have to grab it when they can. LOL The characters, mermaid and human alike, are complex and I am sure you will find your favorite, just like I did. Politics and a world beneath the waves to rival our own. AtlantisI was there! I love the hints and warnings of the damage being done to the oceans and seas. They fit right in and leave me thinking, what can I do? Who is our Ambassador of the deep? After all, I don't want to be the one that contributes to the extinction of the mermaids. Do you? Demelza Carltons writing brings the Oceans Infiltrator world to life. I was entranced and enchanted, letting the story wrap around me like a warm, wonderful cocoon, leaving me with a dreamy smile on my face and a wandering gleam in my eyes. I hated to see the Oceans Gift series end and it will stick with me for a long, long time. I look forward to reading more of Demelza Carltons work!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Celeste Files: Unforgotten (Book 3 Psychic C.O.R.E.) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kristine Mason Page; Review: I am a huge fan of Kristine Mason, a MUST READ author for me. With the latest novel in the Psychic Core stand alone series, Celeste Files: Unforgotten, I am carried deeper into Celestes world. The stories will stand alone, but I believe you will love the books so much, so you will want to start at the beginning. Again, I am captured from the opening pages. What do a toy clown, a toy bear and a toy cowboy have in common? Youll have to read the story to find the answer. Celeste Files: Unforgotten by Kristine Mason has everything I LOVE in a paranormal romance thriller. Visions, ghosts, hauntings, vengeance, romance, a serial killer, murderShe sprinkles bits and pieces of goodies ( some of you may not call them goodies) throughout the story and they make me smile, yell, gasp and ooh and aah. I received a copy of Celeste Files: Unforgotten by Kristine Mason in return for an honest review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The 5th Wave: The Last Star (Book 3) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Rick Yancey Page; Review: FinallyI will know the end of this awesome trilogy. Who will be the last one standingalienhumansomewhere in between? The 5th Wave series is not the story I thought it would beit far surpassed all my high expectations. I cried through the ending with a smile on my face for the happy and the sad. Life goes on.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Your Name, In Fire (Vampire Cycle Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kera Emory Page; Review: Your Name, In Fire by Kera Emory is a fresh approach to the tried and true vampire tale, with the horror not being slasher bright but haunting, lurking, subtle, insidious, keeping the suspense at a high level.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cold Cold Heart (Short Story) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Karin Slaughter Page; Review: YAY! I was so happy to get my hands on Cold, Cold Heart, A Short Story, by Karin Slaughter. I love her novels and I am curious to see if she can draw me in and leave me wanting more with this short story. They couldn't get past the tragedy, so after twenty years of marriage, she was on her own. I wonder, is she out for revenge? I love that she is her own person, doing the things she had denied herself to stay in shape. Dont we all do that, wanting to look different, wanting our older bodies to look like its twenty? She is strong, stronger than John, her ex. And John, I really don't like him. Hes a jerk and makes it easy not to like him! The more I read about him, the more p***ed off I get! When you read about him, I think you will agree. As morbid as the book gets, I cant help but laugh at Pams thoughts, at times. To me that speaks to Karin Slaughters ability to write a great story. OMG. I didn't see that coming. I am really p***ed now. What aoh man, I cant say it. I cant give away too much. BUT, I so badly want to talk about my feelings of hatred and disgust. I LOVE it. Cold,Cold Heart is filled with cruelty, vengeance and, at least for me, some laughter. The twisted ending left me with a smile on my face and a feeling of satisfaction. I had some difficulty getting my review copy, but seeing it is Karin Slaughter, I broke down and bought it. I read it in an hour and it is worth the ninety nine cents I paid for it!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Baby Girl (A Memory House Novel, Book 4) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Bette Lee Crosby Page; Review: I have been reading Bette Lee Crosbys books for years, so I was very happy to read about some new characters and some familiar characters in her new novel, Baby Girl. Her characters come to life and I feel their pain and their joy. Her writing wrings emotions from me and require tissues, so be prepared. Baby Girl deals with a young womans decision to place her baby up for adoption. She wants the best for her child and there is a couple who wants to give her child the best they have to offer. Cheryl Ann struggles and I loved watching her grow from a naive girl to a grown woman. Her trials and tribulations ring true and when she met Nick even I swooned and I don't believe Ive ever used that word before. Then, I laughed at what came next. Yeah, I saw that coming, nope didn't see that. Scumbagwhen IT happens I am the kind of person that thinks, Is he going to pay for that? Baby Girl shines a dark light on men and their characteror lack thereof. Cheryl Anns journey will take her to Memory House and I know good things happen there. So many thoughts went through my mind as I read Baby Girl. Things like, people have baggage and sometimes act out instead of sharing and letting it goA good lesson is don't be too quick to judgeFunny how our perspective changes from the dreams of youth to grown up reality. I myself have learned that you never know what a smile or a simple gesture of kindness can do. The story and characters seem so real and I felt many emotions as I read along. That is not surprising with Bette Lee Crosbys writing. She has a way with words that make me get so involved with the characters that I want only the best for themor should I say most of them. I received a copy of Baby Girl from Bette Lee Crosby in return for an honest review.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mutation Z; Brand: Visit Amazon's Marilyn Peake Page; Review: Journalist Hunter Morgan is a seriously messed up guy who has lost so much because of the Z virus, but he never gives up and I love that, because in this apocalyptic horror novella, all my conspiracy theories developed into full blown betrayal and treason showcasing an evil so potent that it makes me so angry I want to jump into my Kindle and beat the h*** out of someoneor so much worse and with writing like that I say, Well done, Marilyn, as we move on to a new beginning in Hunters life.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mutation Z; Brand: Visit Amazon's Marilyn Peake Page; Review: Each novella is an important part of the whole in the Mutation Z series by Marilyn Peake. Her writing amazes me, bringing the characters and the world they created to life. The Zombie Virus was developed by some of the most evil men ever to walk this earth, all for their own gain and self interest. The brutality they dealt out as the blood and guts flew, the lives that were lost as the good people struggled to expose the conspiracy, is shocking. I felt this story rang of possibilities, that something like this could really happen. Maybe not exactly as written, but when push comes to shove, the elite will sacrifice anything and anyone to get what they want. If you want to be shocked, p***ed off, saddened, frightened, left with food for thought, then Mutation Z is for you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Perfectly Tortured (Book 3 C.O.R.E. Above the Law) (C.O.R.E. Series) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kristine Mason Page; Review: Kristine Mason writes dark romantic suspense that leaves me with my jaw hanging open thinking, how does she come up with such amazing stories and characters. Kristine Masons characters are all hotties, male and female alike and I like that. If Im going to fantasize, why not make the fantasy gorgeous? Perfectly Tortured is appropriately titled and I am so happy to be home with some familiar charactersbut, knowing Kristine, I think Harrison Fairclough is in for the ride of his life. Working for Above The Law makes his life difficult. What happened to him in Georgia haunted him, made him dangerous. It was all he could do to hold back the demons in his mind wanting out, wanting to kill. Poor Harrison. He is such a good man, I cant believe what Kristine has done to him. She has taken him to the depths of hell and I am loving it. I thought she would let him heal, but that is not to be. How will he exorcise the demons? Perfectly Tortured is a continuing story from the previous book, but enough information is shared for this book to stand alone. If you want to know more, youll need to read Perfectly Toxic. Harrison may be a hottie, naive about the ladies, but not about being in the laws crosshairs. He is surely a flawed hero, but oh so lovable. Hes like the runt of the litter, I just want to take him in my arms and love him. I want to swoop him up and protect him. Hes quick with flirty dialogue. No one was looking for Liam, but Harrison would. He didn't trust himself any more, but he would do this alone. I can even feel sorry for Liam. He struggles to control his anger, his impulse to kill. Hes a damaged guy through no fault of his own. Just the same, he needs to be locked up and the key thrown away, or put down like a rabid dog. SecretsLiam and Harrison share so much, even their nightmares. How they handle it will determine their outcomes. Vlad his best fried is a former hitman and wanted by the Russia, the US, Interpol. He is such a unique and quirky character, one of the most loyal people ever. I love him and cant wait til he gets a story of his own. Will he, Kristine? Inquiring minds want to know! Kristine Masons writing of human horror is sprinkled with humor. The peripheral characters all have their place and some will break your heart. Even the romance comes from a dark and twisted place. The tears came from an unexpected source, a twist I never saw coming. Kristine continually amazes me with her ability to take a simple story and twist and turn it, making me wonder how she can come up with so much darkness and suspense, developing it more, adding more, and I wonder how I will ever last long enough to reach the end. Every time I think the story is overtheres more.and more.and more I am; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Empath (Flawed #1); Brand: Visit Amazon's Becca J. Campbell Page; Review: Empath by Becca Campbell hooked me from the opening pages. I was quickly drawn into Jades world and the characters became my friends toomost of them. Jade walked into the classroom and it confirmed her reason for online classes. The feelings bombarded heranger, attraction, excitement. She struggled to maintain a calm appearance. Were they her feelings, or someone elses? She believed in GodWhy had he given her this FLAW? Everything changed for her when she met Logan. He calmed her. Logan, is a professor at the college she was attending and he is a loner, for reasons of his own. He knew he should stay away from her, but we know how that goes. Becca Campbells writing drew me to him immediately. There is something special about him and I was as drawn to him as Jade was. She wonderedis he special too, is this the beginning of something wonderful for her, could she have a relationship? EthanBecca draws a vivid picture of him in my mind. I do love a good villain and Ethan fits that picture perfectly. He is a psychopath, feels no fear and has powers of his own. He collects snakes and they are his tools of torture. Serial killers collect trophies and his are especially heinous. His thoughts and fantasies are EVIL, and they are about Jade. He MUST have her. Cam, poor Cam. He has a huge crush on Jade and I wonder what will become of him. Since a snowboarding accident, he has blackouts that cause a sense of deja vu. I love that Becca describes his senses in depthevery sight, sound and smell, no matter how small. Jade has more friends with unique powers of their own and they all hold a special place in her world. Why were they chosen? Maybe they weren't FLAWS. Maybe they were gifts. When Jade meets Bigfoot I was not surprised. I expected it and had hoped it would happen. I think I know his name. Will I be right? We will have to wait and see. I like how the romance is slow developing, subtle. Do you remember your first lovethe butterflies in your stomach, the heat of a blush rising to the surface of your face, the excitement of even a glimpse of him/her, the teasing and playfulness of a conversation? It reads like real life and that makes the story even more believable. The triangle is not really a triangle, but Cam feels like it is. I guess you can tell I fell in love with the characters. They may be young, but the danger surrounds them as they go about the normal business of life. I usually write more about the action in a novel and the characters just happen to be in the way. Not so with Empath. I am now heavily involved in their lives and will see it through to the end. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Empath by Becca Cambell.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tweedledum and Tweedledee (Emma Frost Book 6) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Willow Rose Page; Review: OMGright out of the gatebreathtaking, jaw dropping, spine tinglingOne of the most Criminal Minds on steroids, suspense, mystery, horror, thriller stories I have ever read, and a must read for all you extreme horror loversand I DARE YOU to go on that cruise?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: After; Brand: Visit Amazon's Scott Nicholson Page; Review: I was so caught up in The ShockAn apocalypse brings out the best and worst in some people and Scott can make his characters shine as they step up and grow up after being thrown into turbulent and dangerous timesand I was p***** when it came to an end, leaving me needing the next book, and the next, to find out how it will end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pea Body - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Ellen Behrens Page; Review: The author, Ellen Behrens, interests me as much as this cozy mystery, so I had to get my hands on Pea Body. The cover represents the calm before the storm that is contained within the pages. I have so much in common with Ellen and her characters, Betty and Walt. They are wanderers, dreamers and list makers. It felt like I was walking in their shoesBird watching, taking photographs of everything in sight, hiking, biking, and being a bit antisocial. We even like a lot of the same TV showsNCIS, CSI, The Closerbut I have never found a dead body, let alone a murder victim. Happy birthday. Your presenta dead body. As the story rolls along, the suspect list mounts and the danger closes in around Betty and Walt. The characters they run into as they investigate come across as authentic people you could meet anywhere, some are friendly and somenot so much. Some are a bit abrasive and annoying, but, when looking closer, you may find you have more in common than you would have thought. It was easy to relate to the locationsI have visited many small coastal towns and each is unique in its own way. I, too, have hiked many trails through state and national parks, enjoying all the wonderful things they have to offer. I am constantly amazed and inspired by their beauty and the birds and animals that call them home. If you are looking for an adventure, Pea Body by Ellen Behrens, is a fun and entertaining cozy mystery that shares the wonders of nature, the characters of a small, seasonal coastal town on the outerbanks of North Carolina, the danger of greed in the hands of those that will do anything to get what they want and the freedom and drawbacks of a home on wheels. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Pea Body by Ellen Behrens.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tieryn's Fury (Shadowcat Nation Book 3) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Abigail Owen Page; Review: Tieryns Fury smacks of realism in the shapeshifter world of The Shadowcat Nation. This series can stand alone, but I love them so much I would recommend beginning at the beginning. grinning Politics and power hungry Alphas of 10 Dares will face off. Tieryn is a Healer, a princess that is unprepared for the battle ahead, but she has a secret, one she has never told a soul. Shane is her bodyguard. Hes hot, sexy and irritating. Gods and Goddesses, shapeshifterscougars, lions and mountain lions, polar bears, pumas, deer, grizzlieshealers, seers, seducersso many wonderful glimpses into the world of the supernatural. The descriptive writing makes it easy to relate to the story. A couple examples: She is a cheerful waker. Dont ya just hate those people who wake up ready to face the day? Cub shifter in cat form.swatting a ball. Such a cute visual Tieryns Fury spotlights Tieryns time to shine in the Shadowcat Nation Series and Abigail Owen does a fabulous job letting her. The on again, off again, romance can be frustrating at times, but not surprising. Isnt that like real life? I love how they sexually torture themselves, especially in the swamp. The verbal, snarky foreplay makes me smile. Their playful tumble in the snow had me grinning like a fool. Abigail describes the wonderful smell of New Orleans, and anyone who has ever been there knows I say that with sarcasm. I love that she mentioned a helicopter-parent. I heard that for the first time on the Christleys TV show. Based on Shanes experience, fate just loved to kick you down and then kick you in the balls. He sounds like a realist to me. I have loved this series from the very beginning, with Andromedas Fall. The characters are complex, loving, giving, sacrificing, some greedy, some selfish and out to get what they feel is theirs for the taking. Gage is the most surprising character to me and that proves why he would be a great leader. I didn't see that outcome. Their world is believable, at times making me forget they are magical. I can hardly wait to read Senecas story. Could these novels stand alone? Sure, but why would you want to miss anything. so I recommend starting at the beginning; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sunrise Awakening (An Evil Rising Novel Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Amanda Siegrist Page; Review: Sunrise Awakening is Amanda Siegrists debut into the romantic suspense world, and she did a great job, using misdirection and multiple villains to distract me. The opening was fantastic. I couldn't help but laugh at myself for being hooked so fast and I must say, I believed every word of it. Jake, literally, bumped into Maddie, and it wasn't only the coffee that burned him. He left a definite impression on her too. BUT Our killer is was pissed, had his eye on her first and was even angrier when they hooked up. Will that put Jake on the killers radar tooand her brother, who is very protective and comes to her aid when things begin to really heat up. Good thing Jake and Lucas quickly become friends. I didn't see it coming. Amanda Siegrist led me down a path that was so muddied I could not see clearly. She keeps the killers identity hidden, pulling me here and there, just like Jake and Maddies romance. I love the push and pull of romantic suspense as danger and terror swirl around the characters. Keeps more than one story going on and creates an sense of anticipation, waiting for evil to rear its ugly head. Maddie isn't the only one in danger. Sunrise Awakening has one of those don't do it momentsdont go in the basement, don't open the door, don't go outside If you do, you just may find yourself in the dark, alone I cant imagine what it would feel like, knowing you are going to be killed.being unable to do anything to help yourself as you wait to die, and the killer lovin every minute of it. The murders are brutal, savage. The killer enjoyed inflicting pain, torturing the victims with fear and terror and the knowledge that their pain increased his pleasure. Sunrise Awakening by Amanda Siegrist has all the ingredients for a wonderful romantic suspense novel. Theres plenty of mystery, danger and anticipation of what would happen next. I am happy to know it was a debut novel, because if Amandas first one is this good, I can only imagine what is to come and I plan on being around to find out Sunrise Awakening is the first book of the series and can stand alone.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sunset Darkening (An Evil Rising Novel Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Amanda Siegrist Page; Review: I love visiting familiar characters and seeing what trouble they can get into now. Amanda Siegrist does not let me down in Sunset Darkening. Lucas works for the Wadena Police Department. He is awakened by a pounding on his door. He is hyper vigilant and answers with a weapon in his hand, only to finda vulture, Elle Conners. She is an investigative reporter, wanting answers about the Trick Killer, Clarence Owens. The case: Clarence killed three women and Lucas sister, Maddie, was almost the fourth. You can see more about Clarence in the first book, Sunrise Awakening. As soon as Lucas laid eyes on Elle, he felt an immediate attraction. But cops and reporters don't go well together and they come from different worlds. Shes a big city girl with lots of money and hes a small town cop with small town pay. Does she share the same attraction? She has her own story and even though she wants his, she will not use sex to get the interview. Its not her style. Hard work, persistence and determination is her motto. Lucas doesnt know it, but she respects his desire to protect his family, his town. Another murder in Wadenais Clarence back, or is there a new killer walking among them? It has been three months since Clarences escape. He is super intelligent, vanishes into disguises where he looks, acts, and sounds like a different person and they will not see him coming. Lucas is obsessed and hopes it is him. He wants himand I don't think he cares if its dead or alive. I love the characters and the story. They are not wusses and stick together. When Elle and Maddie take on a mission of their ownPsycho beware. You cannot hide. Amanda Siegrist is making me wonder how many women will go down, before I have my answer. How does he choose his victims? I have my suspect early on and Ill be curious to see if Im right. Theres a niggle of doubt and as I read along. A good bit of misdirection and great suspense coming from it. Amanda Siegrist can sure ramp up the suspense, anticipation, and surprise, leaving me with a fantastic ending and happy ever after. I cant pinpoint why this doesnt blow my socks off. I want to be drawn into the killers evil mind, used, abused and beyond disgust, because he is THAT guy. I want to feel their pain, their fears, Lucas desire and Elles too. Amanda does that, butMaybe its just an off day for me. Why don't you grab a copy and let me know what you think. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Sunset Darkening by Amanda Siegrist.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nibble, Nibble, Crunch (Horror Stories from Denmark Book 3) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Willow Rose Page; Review: Nibble Nibble Crunch shares a glimpse of humanity with characters you will love to hate, yet empathize with when the truth comes out, as they pay their respects to the snowmanwho will make you think twice about building one of those balls of white stacked on top of each other, with the sticks for arms (all the better to grab you with), the mouthwell, youll have to read it to find out what it does with that.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Dragon's Tale - The Book of Genevieve - Book II eBook; Brand: Mark Boyd; Review: The Book of Genevieve by Mark Boyd is the second of A Dragons Tale Trilogy. I loved the first one, so I was very happy to continue the journey with Genevieve. Because this is the second book of the series and there is so much wonderful fantasy in store for you, I do not want to give anything away. I will just tell you how I felt as I read along I couldn't help but smile when Mark states that all Genevieve wanted were breasts and a normal life. BUT, there is a Prophecy to be fulfilled and she is part of it. We have elves, Pegasaurs, dragons, demons, vampires, werehounds, trolls, dwarves and two brothers that I fell in love with, Aer and Loer. I loved when Genevieve and Leto showcased their swordplay, the crowd wildly cheering them on. I could see it like a film playing in my mind. So much funas is her first ride on her dragon, soaring, swooping, loop-de-looping, laughing all the way. I got lost in their fantasy world of new friendships and new alliances. The more characters I met, the more friends I made. Some are rough and gruff, some are easy going, some are young, some are old. The magical creatures are drawn together to fulfill the Prophecy. Some will die, especially sad about the one, but as some pass on, new babes are born. I can hardly wait to learn the ending of this does not stand alone trilogy in Mishmakor, The Dragon King. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Book of Genevieve by Mark Boyd.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 30 Seconds - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Chrys Fey Page; Review: Terror, being chased, running, hiding the beginning. Dani Hart literally bumped into Blake and her life took a turnfor the worse or for the better? You decide. Their pasts had shaped their future and fate had brought them together. Even as evil tears the place apart all around Dani, Chrys manages to slip a little humor into the story. She makes a stupid mistake answering a call, and, well Dani is so darn cute, but fierce too. I love that Blake is always cooking, so maybe the way to a womans heart is through her stomach. And, of course, sometimes a situation calls for a snowball fight. Such a simple pleasure. It took me 30 seconds to fall in love with you Fear of death = instalove The suspense grows and the pace is smoothuntil, well, you will need to find out for yourself. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of 30 Seconds by Chrys Fey.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Escaping Memories (A Lucky Town Novel Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Amanda Siegrist Page; Review: In the small town of Lucky, a young child of ten has been murdered and Sheriff Logan Caldwell will not take a badly needed vacation until it has been handled. Then, its off to his cabin in the woods. His place of tranquility. He needed some peace and quiet, some solitude. He walks in, only to find he is not alone. There is a woman and she needs his help. She has no memories, amnesia. She doesnt know how or why is she here, she just knows danger is out there and shes not going anywhere. Even with the characters fear coming through, Amanda Siegrist writes with humor and lightness. The immediate hook is great, the story line predictablebut who is the bad guy? At 24%, have I met him yet? I don't think so, and I do have my eyes wide open. Its a very small town and I would think he is no stranger to the area. He took her, used and abused her, but somehow she managed to escape. In the back of my mind, a thought persists, will he get his hands on her again? I love strong women in distress. There is a sweet innocence about her. She has been hurt, terrorized, a childlike woman who needs a protector to help her find her way back to herself. Her naivety and honesty comes through in Amanda Siegrists storytelling. Even though their relationship develops quickly, she makes it seem as if it is natural, easy, real, well you know, sort of real. A subtle menace lurks in the background. Logan is the man I would want to run into if I were in her situation. He is chivalrous. I find the word perfectly describes him. He will not hurt her or take advantage of her. He is patient, gentle, tender, loving, putting her first in all things. The peripheral characters have important roles to play and their well developed personalities shine through. Even though I tend to favor darker and grittier novels, Amanda Siegrist made it easy to get lost in Escaping Memories, with suspense and humor that kept me turning the pages. I didn't always know where we were going, and I like that she kept me guessing. The characters were easy to relate to and drew me into their lives, wanting to know if everyone makes it out of this mess in a good wayexcept for the bad guy, of course. He needs his comeuppance. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Escaping Memories by Amanda Siegrist.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: A British family on vacation say they accidentally drove into the U.S. They've spent days detained with their 3-month-old baby.; Abstract: "We have been treated like criminals here, stripped of our rights, and lied to," Eileen Connors wrote in a sworn statement. "It is undoubtedly the worst experience we have ever lived through."; Category: news
Title: Jimmy Carter hospitalized after fall at Georgia home; Abstract: Spokeswoman says former President Jimmy Carter hospitalized with a pelvic fracture after falling his home.; Category: news
Title: Former President Jimmy Carter suffers pelvic fracture after falling in Georgia home; Abstract: Former President Jimmy Carter was taken to the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center for "observation and treatment," according to the Carter Center; Category: news
Title: Watch: 'The View' Versus Donald Trump Jr.: Loud, Low Blows, Politics, Scandals And Great TV; Abstract: Updated throughout, videos added Whoopi Goldberg wouldn't say his name, Sunny Hostin said he was lying, Abby Huntsman accused him of using "dictator" tactics. And Donald Trump Jr. gave it back, accusing Joy Behar of once wearing blackface and resurrected Goldberg's defense of Roman Polanski as not committing "rape rape," all in a; Category: tv
Title: Lufthansa strike cancels 1,300 flights, stranding thousands; Abstract: Lufthansa said that customers could rebook their flights, but passengers reported having trouble reaching the airline.; Category: travel
Title: 2020 Chevrolet Blazer RS: Pros And Cons; Abstract: A handsome, punchy SUV short on substance.; Category: autos
Title: Small Canadian island irate that Americans keep opening their mail; Abstract: The population of a tiny Canadian island off the coast of Maine is demanding their government start a year-round ferry service or build a new bridge to the mainland to keep American customs officials from opening what they say is nearly every piece of mail they've been getting for over a year.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Grand View Resort; City: Nahan Sirmaur District Himachal Pradesh; Review: We luckily ended up here after the Trains were cancelled due to fog and some other reasons and our trip to Ajmer got cencelled. Someone suggested Nahan as it was the end of December and would have been too cold for Shimla or any other hill station. Since we were apprehensive about the place, we din't book the rooms in advance but the staff was so courteous that they gave us whatever rooms were available, and by that I don't mean the bad rooms because no rooms were bad. Even the lower category rooms had all the facilities and direct sunlight which one wishes for, in winters. Since it was the week between Christmas and New Year, there were various events in the evening and they have a DJ which runs on all evenings. The food was excellen and they helped us with the non-spicy portions very readily. The lawn is well-kept, rooms clean and well-designed, not to forget the beautiful plants they have all over the place. Once in a while, you will see monkeys fooling around but they don't disturb the visitors. The view of the valley and the mountains and the sunset is excellent . They even have massage, jacuzzi and sauna, something you don't easily find on mountains... The best part is the 6 hour comfortable drive out of which around 45 min-1 hour is the mountain terrain.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Blu Udaipur Palace Resort Spa; City: Udaipur Udaipur District Rajasthan; Review: The entrance and the structure is really royal and the morning sunlight shining on the just-cleaned marble terrace was very welcoming. Warmly greeted even though we arrived much before our check-in time. We were given rooms right away with the promised facilities. Rooms are spacious, clean and as we stayed in the lake view rooms, I can say the scenary was quite nice. The hotel is a little away from the Fateh Sagar lake but gives a memorable view of the trees, lake and the Aravali range. Service is pretty good. The only thing they can most probably work on, a little bit, is that they should be geared to handle big groups of people since we felt the service time went up when there was a large group sitting in the dining hall alongwith us. All in all, a nice and memorable experience.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Club Mahindra Naukuchiatal; City: Naukuchiatal Nainital District Uttarakhand; Review: I had never expected a lake so beautiful and a resort so exciting! Visit to Naukuchiatal was made memorable due to the excellent courtesy and always readifulness (cudnt find a better word!) of the staff. Really enjoyed the food, the ambience, the daily evening activities, and last but not the least the adventure activities inluding double rope and canoeing. Will always cherish the memories!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Club Mahindra Kandaghat; City: Kandaghat Solan District Himachal Pradesh; Review: We traveled there with family in last September. The room allocation took a bit of time but the staff understood the priorities of accompanying a senior citizen. There is a main block which has no stairs. So for senior citizens that is preferable. We stayed down the hill for one night and that was also a good experience but nothing beats the main block and its surroundings. Built over a hill, this resort provides rooms at various levels and if you are a person who likes to be quite and close to the hills...choose not the main block. But be ready for the up-hill ride or walk in that case. Amazing food and service. The chef made us an excellent river water fish on his personal recommendation and served sausages in the breakfast when we requested to. Very helpful staff and great rooms...Thank you for the wonderful stay!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ITC Rajputana Jaipur a Luxury Collection Hotel; City: Jaipur Jaipur District Rajasthan; Review: We stayed in ITC Rajputana in August last year. Amazing transformation as soon as we entered the hotel premises which is just 5 min walk from the station. The welcome at the hotel and at the reception was amazing. The reception lobby gives you a feeling that you are in fact in the royal city of Jaipur. The rooms are excellent and well-equipped. The food was good especially the freshly baked bread. The breakfast menu spread is vast and satisfies all kinds of appetites. The only scope of improvement I could find was the service at the coffee shop which takes quite a bit of time to allocate seats as well as serve food. Though it improved on providing feedback. The combos in food are very nice options especially when you are travelling with kids. Overall, a memorable experience!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Club Mahindra Binsar Valley; City: Binsar Almora District Uttarakhand; Review: Home away from home is what someone rated it as and I totally agree. It's a small resort as compared to others like CM Kandaghat, but it has its own serene beauty with home like hospitality. Views are magnificent, adventure activities nice and food is great too. We ordered a la Carte and it came out cheaper than buffet with the discount for members. The activity zone staff is great and warm but could make the zone livelier by planning the mornings and afternoons too. The drive to the place was lovely and scenic. Would love to visit again!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The LaLiT Golf Spa Resort Goa; City: Canacona South Goa District Goa; Review: From the moment we stepped in to the moment we stepped out, this Was pure luxury! The rooms are huge, built in old European style, breakfast menu extra large and sumptuous, swimming pool nothing smaller than a huge pond with levels for each one's comfort. The kids play area is awesome with all kinds of blocks, games and even a ladder! The beach is amazing with breathtaking view of mountains on either side. Overall, a memorable trip!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fortune Park Orange Sidhrawali; City: Gurugram Gurgaon Gurgaon District Haryana; Review: Hi! We visited the hotel on July 29 for a one day visit with family. Should have actually thought before booking. It's a sheer disappointment. Started with the Lobby Ac not on. The basic rooms have no view. The swimming pool water is dirty, tiles are broken and my child got hurt. When we went for lunch, the restaurant had flies! The pool table is non functional and the air hockey is "on" but not working properly. At night, the buffet Seems to have space for snacks with lamps and all but there are no snacks! Overall, a sheer disappointment!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Village; City: Mysuru Mysore Mysore District Karnataka; Review: The first thing you notice when you enter the resort is the beautiful gate with brass things all around. The lush greens, homely feeling, senior citizen friendliness are some things that add to your wonderful stay.food is Good though with limited choices ...we stayed on ground floor and just loved it. Though a small place, it is maintained with utmost care and even the gardener would be ready to help you out . With Sukhavana that house 4000 parrots next door and backdrop of the hills, an unforgettable place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Club Mahindra Madikeri Coorg; City: Madikeri Kodagu Coorg Karnataka; Review: Hi! Love this property and the serene charm. The only drawback being the food which is exorbitant making it look like they are taking advantage of the fact that people are stuck here since there are no good eateries close by. Even compared to Varca which is a 5 star property, the package is almost double!!having a common club mahindra management, they should compare the rates...; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Hue Women's Curvy Fit Jeans Leggings; Brand: ; Review: The fit is great and they feel wonderful. I feel so constricted in jeans, but my job doesn't allow leggings. These are a perfect solution! The look of a skinny jean, the fit of a comfortable legging.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hunter Women's Original Short Rain Boot; Brand: ; Review: They are definitely better quality than the cheap ones that you can buy anywhere, but still not something you can wear all day. I usually opt for a liner because they can get cold outside.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The SAK Ventura Convertible Backpack; Brand: The Sak; Review: I love this bag! I love that it is convertible and very easy to convert.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bandelettes Elastic Anti-Chafing Thigh Bands - Prevent Thigh Chafing; Brand: Bandelettes; Review: I love these!!!! Wear them under shorts, skirts and dresses.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bandelettes Elastic Anti-Chafing Thigh Bands - Prevent Thigh Chafing; Brand: Bandelettes; Review: I love these!!!! Wear them under shorts, skirts and dresses.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bandelettes Elastic Anti-Chafing Thigh Bands - Prevent Thigh Chafing; Brand: Bandelettes; Review: I love these!!!! Wear them under shorts, skirts and dresses.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Vixen Women's Plus-Size Sleeveless Knot-Front Surplice Dress; Brand: Star Vixen; Review: Fits as expected. Very flattering. Material is pretty cheap, but for the price it's as you'd expect.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Idingding Womens Galaxy Star Printed High Waist Leggings Pants; Brand: Idingding; Review: The description says high rise and they are definitely not high rise. But the material is nice and they are fun.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hampton Inn Utica; City: Utica New York; Review: We stayed here while visiting colleges in the area. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Free movies, complimentary breakfast (with more options than I expected), evening snacks and a nice room made this stay very pleasant and a great value. My only complaint is that the walls seemed to be a little on the thin side. If you are a light sleeper, you may want to plan accordingly. I would definitely stay here again if I return to the area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wyndham Garden Buffalo Downtown; City: Buffalo New York; Review: My family and I stayed here during a recent college visit. The neighborhood leading up to the hotel was a little sketchy, so we were shocked by the look and feel of this property. Once you walk through the front door, you completely forget your surroundings. The lobby and our room were very tastefully decorated, well-appointed, clean and comfortable. We rec'd a room upgrade to a suite for a nominal additional amount. The space was wonderful. The beds were a little firm for my taste, but that's a personal preference issue. The staff was very welcoming and helpful. We were aware that we would have to valet our car, so there was no surprise there. We were able to easily get our car whenever and as many times as we needed it for the same flat rate. Should my child opt to go to school in Buffalo, we will definitely be back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn by Marriott Boston Harbor on Tudor Wharf; City: Boston Massachusetts; Review: I was pleasantly surprised by my experience at this hotel. The staff was friendly and attentive. Check in was easy. We stayed in a one bedroom suite that was very roomy and comfortable. The beds were great and breakfast was tasty.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Woodenbridge Hotel Lodge; City: Arklow County Wicklow; Review: Our tour stopped here for lunch. The food was very tasty and the staff was very attentive. The building itself was lovely. Take the time to walk around the lounge and enjoy the history on display. The old photos are fantastic.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin; City: Dublin County Dublin; Review: My family and I stayed here during our recent vacation. The rooms are a little small but well-appointed. The staff is extremely helpful and attentive. The breakfast options are extensive and again, the staff is very attentive. The location was convenient.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: A Dawn of Dragonfire: Dragonlore, Book 1; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel Arenson Page; Review: I REALLY Enjoyed this Book can't wait until I Read the next and find out what happens to Morie and the rest; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Memory of Light (Wheel of Time); Author: ; Review: Love it love all the books but I have not yet finished it ! I recommend that you read The Wheel of Time from book One and keep going; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Quest of Heroes: Book #1 in the Sorcerer's Ring; Author: Visit Amazon's Morgan Rice Page; Review: The story takes you in and captivates you .you start to feel for the young male Character starting his world wind adventure; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A March of Kings (Sorcerer's Ring); Author: Visit Amazon's Morgan Rice Page; Review: The story takes you to the edge of life and dangles you can't wait until the next book this is getting good; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Charge of Valor (Sorcerer's Ring); Author: Visit Amazon's Morgan Rice Page; Review: The story takes you to the edge of your seat . The story is intense the next thing you realize you are at the end can't wait until the next book is released; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Scourge of Muirwood; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Wheeler Page; Review: I highly recommend these books if you like a fantasy world of good verse evil , it keeps you wanting more !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dragon War: The Complete Trilogy; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel Arenson Page; Review: This was a very wonderful Ending to a Great set of stories, All Three Trilogies are a must Read If you are a Dragon Lover Enjoy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Deliverer: Book One in the Marenon Chronicles; Author: Visit Amazon's Jason D. Morrow Page; Review: I Enjoyed this story was a bit strange at first but as you get a few chapters in you get hooked and want more (Next Book); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dragonlore: The Complete Trilogy; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel Arenson Page; Review: Interesting, New Story groups of Dragons But still makes you love them all the same; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Kefalos Beach Tourist Village; City: Paphos Paphos District; Review: On arrival at Kefalos we were impressed with the cleanliness and style of the hotel. We are a family of 4 with 13yrd old twin boys and the reception staff were brilliant and apologised for the twenty minute delay for our room. We found that we had been upgraded to a two bedroom apartment with was new and could not be faulted. The sea views and layout made it a pleasure to stay in with the sound of the waves at night in the bedroom or on the balcony. The room was very clean and well maintained throughout our stay. The breakfasts were great, there was a great range of food, the staff were pleasant and when we ate before 9am it was not busy. The boys spent lots of time in the pool and joined in the daytime entertainment centred around the pool. There was no problem getting a sun bed if you go dowm before 9am but there is plenty of space for a few more sun beds which would ease congestion. The little grassed football area was a lot of fun at night and we had a few kick arounds. The sea/beach was not great but there are nice beaches which can easily be reached by bus.We had four evening meals on a cheap package which were very good and well worth the money. Happy hour for cocktails was good and though the evening shows were limited in quality sitting out on a warm evening with the sound of the sea sipping a cocktail takes some beating. Went on the day trip by air to Egypt which was superb and a real must. Also visited North Cyprus which was interesting. Hired a Suzuki Jimmy which was great - plenty of roman ruins to visit and the Troodos mountains are lovely and just that bit cooler. Overall the Hotel was very clean, great staff(especially entertainment during day) the rooms were faultless. I would recommend a visit witout question Must have a sea view though to get the best from this hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moab Valley Inn; City: Moab Utah; Review: Stayed two nights visiting Arches and Canyonlands. Check in very efficient, Room decent size and very clean with all usual facilities and very quiet at night. Very well located if you have teenagers in your group,at far end of Moab opposite McDonalds and Burger King as well as a supermarket etc. Short distance into Moab itself as well as the parks. Especially useful is that there are two laundrettes at the hotel which was a bonus. Good value for money and difficult to fault; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The View Hotel; City: Monument Valley Utah; Review: Stayed for two nights. Reception and restaurant staff very friendly and helpful. Room spotless, decent size and well equipped. As the room was near the lobby had wifi which was very useful. Open the curtains and the view is stunning, I doubt it can be beaten and at dawn/dusk it is even better. It is worth the cost alone. Could sit on the room terrace all day watching the colours changing in the valley Had sandstorm and lightning storm which was out of this world. The food in the restaurant was good with generous portions. Received discount vouchers for buffet breakfast which made it great value for money. Recommend pre booked trip into lower valley with guide. This hotel is a must visit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Derby West; City: Derby Derbyshire England; Review: Stayed at the Premier Inn with a family of 4 on 29th May 2013 for one night. On arrival reception was very efficient. The room was very clean with the two extra beds, one a converted sofa bed and an additional temporary bed were already made up. There was enough space in the room and the bathroom was good. There were the correct amount of towels and cups with plenty of coffee/milk etc which having been to many Travelodges is a real bonus. The choice of pillows was a nice touch. Decided the attached Beefeater was a little expensive for dinner so went to one of the fast food outlets which are within a couple of miles. Breakfast next morning was first class with good service and range of food. Price was good as our two 15 year olds ate for free. The location of this hotel is very good for Alton Towers etc. Difficult to fault Hotel for value for money and service; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn East Windsor Cranbury Area; City: East Windsor New Jersey; Review: Stayed for two nights at the end of July with my family to visit Six Flags as part of a driving tour. Reception very helpful,. Room large, well equipped and very clean. Beds comfortable, room quiet and had very good nights' sleep. Used the restaurant one evening and for two breakfasts, service very good and food good value especially the buffet breakfast. Used launderette which was very efficient. Had slight problem with billing on my return to the UK but this was efficiently resolved. The hotel is very well located for six flags and I would recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kimpton Hotel Palomar Washington DC; City: Washington DC District of Columbia; Review: Arrived at hotel unable to park near to the front so parked in space at rear of hotel. On checking in it was pointed out that only valet can park the vehicle as if I had committed some terrible offence. After this curt reception(to be fair other members of reception were fine) the room was large and well equipped with a fride containing the a really expensive possible mini-bar. Decor was in the boutique style and the beds were comfortable and the room quiet. The lifts are very slow and a constant cause of frustration to customers. The hotel is well located near to Dupont only a 20 minute walk to the White House and in a very up market area. The valet parking fee at over $40 is high and it is aa long wait for the car but other little things annoy, a continental breakfast is included but for only two in the room so my teenage sons miss out - For a hotel of this cost all the occupants of the room should get get a complimentary breakfast. On the plus side the free glass of wine/biscuits each evening is very nice .This hotel has many plus points but is not woth the extra cost.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Security camera spots SOS from woman lost for three days in Australia; Abstract: "There was a bit of euphoria that, wow there's our break," police said of the the SOS message.; Category: news
Title: Michelle Pfeiffer initially blamed herself after #MeToo moment: 'I should've known'; Abstract: Michelle Pfeiffer is opening up about an uncomfortable and inappropriate moment with a "high-powered" industry person.; Category: movies
Title: 2 reported dead after plane that vanished from radar and crashed in North Carolina; Abstract: Authorities in North Carolina have found the small plane that vanished from radar near the Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Sunday night -- two are reported dead.; Category: news
Title: Football Four: As Ohio State rolls and Oklahoma falls, Alabama and LSU ready for showdown; Abstract: As Ohio State rolls and Oklahoma falls, the SEC dreams of getting two teams into College Football Playoff. Out West, Oregon and Utah climb back in.; Category: sports
Title: Brilliant houseboats for sale to suit every budget; Abstract: Fancy getting a foot on the property ladder without being tied down to one location?; Category: finance
Title: Photographer Crosses Paths With A Black Cat Unlike Any He's Seen Before; Abstract: Some people might think crossing paths with a black cat is a bad omen but for wildlife photographer George Turner, his encounter with one such feline was actually a sign of really, really good fortune.; Category: lifestyle
Title: 4 High School Students Killed in Texas Car Crash That Also Injured 3: 'We Grieve Together'; Abstract: 4 High School Students Killed in Texas Car Crash; Category: news
Title: Kendall Jenner Wore the Tiniest Dress to Go Jewelry Shopping; Abstract: No fall layers to see here.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Snow crab sells for record price in Japan; Abstract: A "five shining star" snow crab was auctioned off in Tottori, Japan for a record-breaking 5 million yen ($46,000). wide.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Missing California hiker found dead at top of glacier just weeks before baby was due; Abstract: A missing hiker from Huntington Beach California was found dead on Thursday at the top of the Darwin glacier in the Inyo National Forest.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Apple iPod touch 8 GB (1st Generation) (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Apple; Review: Although this is the 1st generation and it lacks some better features of the 2nd generation, for the price it is well worth it. My wife and daughter are rarely without theirs.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Apple iPod touch 8 GB (1st Generation) (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Apple; Review: Although this is the 1st generation and it lacks some better features of the 2nd generation, for the price it is well worth it. My wife and daughter are rarely without theirs.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Defender PHOENIX1 Wireless Video Security System with Portable LCD Monitor and Indoor/Outdoor Night Vision Surveillance Camera (Black); Brand: Defender; Review: This has been very useful and worth the sub 150.00 price that I paid. It gives a clear picture and depending on the lighting, influences the color quality, in a well lit room the color is good. This is no HD by any means but no worse than a non HD camcorder. I leave the camera plugged in so I can't attest to the 9V battery life and the monitor will run at least 4 hours on a full charge. The microphone is also very sensitive to noises so I mainly have mine turned down, it easily can pick up voices in another room. I'm very happy with this product so far, its only been a week but I have no complaints. A zoom or panarama view would be nice like some of the competition but I would still recommend this to a friend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pentax 65792 XCF 10x50 Binoculars with Case; Brand: Pentax; Review: They have worked quite well and I've been extremely happy with the performance & quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Agent Spy 007 Sniper Mini Spy Camera 8 GB Memory Card HD Video High Resolution USB Playback On Mac or; Brand: Spy 007; Review: My experience with this is almost identical to MK, who reviewed today as well. I can't get it to record anything either and after a few hours of messing with it, I gave up. I've used many different hidden cameras and if they are difficult to use in a pinch, then they are worthless. I have Windows 8.1 and what it did show, I couldn't open with anything, Windows Media, Quicktime or VLC. I'll be returning mine as well, hopefully with no hassles.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: ARCTIC F12 Pro PWM PST - 120 mm PWM PST Case Fan | Vibration-Absorbing | PST-Port (PWM Sharing Technology); Brand: ARCTIC; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CORSAIR CSM Series, CS550M, 550 Watt, 80+ Gold Certified, Semi Modular Power Supply; Brand: Corsair; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ballistix Sport 4GB Single DDR3 1600 MT/s (PC3-12800) UDIMM 240-Pin Memory - BLS4G3D1609DS1S00; Brand: Ballistix; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Corsair Hydro Series Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler H80i; Brand: Corsair; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Synology DiskStation DS213j 2-Bay Network Attached Storage Server; Brand: Synology; Review: it's kinda slow and have too may fuctions i don't know; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-7TE250BW); Brand: Samsung; Review: this drive is locked i don't know what to do with this; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gigabyte GTX760 GDDR5-4GB 2xDVI/HDMI/DP OC Graphics Card (GV-N760OC-4GD REV2.0); Brand: Gigabyte; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Intel Core i7-4790K Processor- BX80646I74790K; Brand: Intel; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tryone Gooseneck Tablet Stand, Tablet Mount Holder for iPad iPhone Series/Nintendo Switch/Samsung Galaxy Tabs/Amazon Kindle Fire HD and; Brand: Tryone; Review: I like it; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Premier Mounts AM2 Swing-Out Arms For 17-Inch to 40-Inch LCD Screens (Silver) (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Premier Mounts; Review: I needed to have a wall mount for my new 32" LCD tv. I purchased this one. It was easy to install with the additional mounting plate. It is very sturdy and can hold the tv in any position. Jim; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Toshiba DVD/VHS Recorder (DVR620) No Tuner (Discontinued 2009 Model); Brand: Toshiba; Review: I wanted to make copies of of some very old vhs cassette tapes. Once I figured out the right setting on the sattelite tv the recording on the dvd went smoothly. I have not figured out how to add a second tape to the much available space left on the dvd. JWT; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mediabridge Toslink Cable (6 Feet) - Optical Digital Audio Cable; Brand: Mediabridge; Review: I was disappointed in this cable because the two ends were too large to fit in the receiving equipment. Therefore, I am not able to use this cable to do anything.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sony MDRRF985RK Wireless RF Headphone, Black; Brand: Sony; Review: I now hear everything better,especially sports channels and all forms of music in programs. one of my best purchases ever.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: $10 Zuzume Prepaid Phone Calling Cards for Cheap International Long Distance Calls; Brand: Zuzume; Review: My call to Korea went very smoothly. It was easy to use the access number on my home phone and then dial the number. I was able to do it within 12 hours of the time I ordered my card. One problem was the email from Dial World Communications went into my trash and I was looking for something from Amazon but a phone call cleared that up. With a $20 card I will receive more than 8 hours of call time to Korea!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: TOMS Men's Classic Canvas Slip-On; Brand: TOMS; Review: She loved them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Seasonal Classics Women's Slip on Shoes; Brand: TOMS; Review: She loved them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Seasonal Classics Women's Slip on Shoes; Brand: TOMS; Review: She loved them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Seasonal Classics Women's Slip on Shoes; Brand: TOMS; Review: She loved them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Men's Classic Canvas Slip-On; Brand: TOMS; Review: She loved them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Seasonal Classics Women's Slip on Shoes; Brand: TOMS; Review: She loved them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Men's Classic Canvas Slip-On; Brand: TOMS; Review: She loved them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Seasonal Classics Women's Slip on Shoes; Brand: TOMS; Review: She loved them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOMS Seasonal Classics Women's Slip on Shoes; Brand: TOMS; Review: She loved them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NYFASHION101 Oversized Baggy Slouchy Thick Winter Beanie Hat; Brand: ; Review: It's not for men. My roommate and I ordered 2 of these and 2 others for our partners. The women like them, but these are not for men. Much too small and stiff.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: FORBUSITE Mens Slouchy Long Oversized Beanie Knit Cap for Summer Winter B08; Brand: FORBUSITE; Review: Awesome! Great fit and style!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: IL Caldo Summer Beret Hats Vintage Plaid Beret Cap Cotton Hat Drivers Newsboy Cap; Brand: IL Caldo; Review: Way too large; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: FIBO STEEL 2-6Pcs 11mm Wood Beaded Bracelet for Men Buddha Bracelet Elastic; Brand: FIBO STEEL; Review: A few things. These are pretty cheap, have an awful smell, the coin on one broke within 5 minutes of it being out of box, and they sent 2 of the same one...so i didn't get one that i should've.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Green Sandalwood Beads Tibetan Buddhist Prayer Meditation Mala Necklace; Brand: OVALBUY; Review: Great mala for the price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Devil's Cave: A Mystery of the French Countryside; Author: Visit Amazon's Martin Walker Page; Review: Bruno never fails to deliver. He's entertaining, charming, loyal, and thoughtful. Reading about the ways he solves the various disturbances in the village takes me to a less complicated time when plain thinking and good intentions ruled the day. I cant get enough of this character and the life that is so well-portrayed by the author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Return to Tradd Street; Author: Visit Amazon's Karen White Page; Review: When I know a new one is coming out, I go back to the first one and read them all over again and enjoy the characters that Karen White brings to life. Could there be a better setting for this than Charleston?! She cant write these fast enough for me!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Space Between: An Outlander Novella - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Gabaldon Page; Review: what an inspiration to write novellas about all those spaces between her big books! They may be small, and Im always sad when they are done (I live in the big books for a long time!) but I love being able to bring small threads of a story line together. Ive been very curious about Jamies' mother and father...parts of their story has been told in snippets so I have a picture of them, but id love to read a novella featuring them Im looking forward to the release of that next big book..mine's been on pre-order since Christmas!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Corsican Caper; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Mayle Page; Review: I love this author and keep all of his novels. This one just missed the mark for me. A little too predictable and the ending was too pat. But ill line up to get the next one cause I love the voice he writes in; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Crowded Grave: A Mystery of the French Countryside (Bruno, Chief of Police); Author: Visit Amazon's Martin Walker Page; Review: Walker has the knack of transporting me to a small town in France in his opening paragraph. Well developed characters and a plot that keeps me thoroughly entertained. Im always sad when the book ends and wait eagerly for his next Bruno adventure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Resistance Man: A Mystery of the French Countryside; Author: Visit Amazon's Martin Walker Page; Review: I love the character of Bruno. The author does a great job of painting the setting so you feel yourself swept away to rural France. And the descriptions of the meals and recipes are mouthwatering!!!!!! I cant wait till the next installment comes out..Im a Martin Walker fan; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bring Up the Bodies; Author: Hilary Mantell; Review: So well written. Characters are vividly drawn. Even though you know the story I love seeing this through Cromwells eyes. Can't wait till April when Wolf Hall airs in PBS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gods of Guilt (A Lincoln Lawyer Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Connelly Page; Review: Can't get enough of Connelly and Mickey Haller. Always ready for the next one!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Children Return: A Bruno, Chief of Police novel (Bruno, Chief of Police Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Martin Walker Page; Review: I love Bruno books. Thy take me back to fun travels in rural France and great food experiences. Life in that simple town is appealing. The mysteries are intriguing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Murder in the Rue Dumas (Verlaque and Bonnet Provencal Mysteries) (A Provençal Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's M. L. Longworth Page; Review: I like these main characters. I care about what happens To them and BETWEEN them. I am ready for the next installment!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fatal Pursuit: A novel (Bruno, Chief of Police Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Martin Walker Page; Review: Bruno is one of my favorite characters and you can't ever go wrong with a story that's set in a small rural French village. Each novel is a gem and never fails to entertain and leave me ready for the next one; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fatal Pursuit; Author: Visit Amazon's Martin Walker Page; Review: Bruno is one of my favorite characters and you can't ever go wrong with a story that's set in a small rural French village. Each novel is a gem and never fails to entertain and leave me ready for the next one; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Corrections; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Franzen Page; Review: I enjoyed the read. The story of a disfunsional family dealing with lifes day to day issues. Few things shocked me, but did overall enjoy the book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: Didn't know this was supposed to be for kids, but enjoyed it as I have all of John Grisham's books. Found it interesting and a great easy read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Home Again (The Chesapeake Diaries); Author: Visit Amazon's Mariah Stewart Page; Review: Mariah Stewart had created a great setting in a small town that is some place i would love to live. The charactors are believeable and great to follow the lives and and how they intertwine. Can hardly wait to read the newest book that just came out,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hometown Girl: The Chesapeake Diaries; Author: Visit Amazon's Mariah Stewart Page; Review: The town and the charactors are great and I would love to find a place like this to live and get to know the people.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Christmas in Cedar Cove: An Anthology (A Cedar Cove Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Debbie Macomber Page; Review: I enjoy the story line as the city the author lives in is close to where I live, and it is a warm and fuzzy read. Just like to keep up on the lives of her charactors.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Quilt by Association (A Harriet Truman/Loose Threads Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Arlene Sachitano Page; Review: Love the mystery and combined sewing so it is a perfect fit for me. Waiting for the next book. Arlene Sachitano makes the most of a small town setting that I love, and quilters that love what they do.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Quilt Before the Storm: A Harriet Truman/Loose Threads Mystery (Harriet Truman/Looose Threads) (Volume 5); Author: Visit Amazon's Arlene Sachitano Page; Review: I have read all the stories Arlene Sachitano has written for the Harriet Truman series, and enjoyed everyone of them. Can hardly wait for her next book to come out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Scarlet Cord: Conversations With God's Chosen Women; Author: Visit Amazon's Lindsay Hardin Freeman Page; Review: This book has opened so many long unanswered questions about these ladies. How their background put them in the place for the story of Jesus. Gave the copies to other friends and they love it too. Will be using it for our fall Bible study.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Make Quilts Not War (A Harriet Truman/Loose Threads Mystery) (Volume 6); Author: Visit Amazon's Arlene Sachitano Page; Review: Love the Harriet Truman books and the small town setting and projects are great. Love the fellowship these women have; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Certain; Author: Visit Amazon's Mariah Stewart Page; Review: Love all the Mariah Stewart's books. She keep the interest going through out the book so you can't put it down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Last Words: A Novel of Suspense; Author: Visit Amazon's Mariah Stewart Page; Review: Thriller that keeps your interest to the very end of the book. Her sense of mystery keeps the book moving to the very end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coming Home (The Chesapeake Diaries); Author: Visit Amazon's Mariah Stewart Page; Review: Can hardly wait to read the next one that is coming out. I hope the series never ends. Great book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: At the River's Edge: The Chesapeake Diaries; Author: Visit Amazon's Mariah Stewart Page; Review: I have read all the Chesapeake Diaries, and can hardly wait for the next one to come out. Can hardly wait to the next one arrives at my door; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coming Home (The Chesapeake Diaries); Author: Visit Amazon's Mariah Stewart Page; Review: Can hardly wait to read the next one that is coming out. I hope the series never ends. Great book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The President's Daughter (Sean Dillon Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Higgins Page; Review: I am a long time follower of Ms Stewart's writing, and "The President's Daughter" followers the intrigue and mystery I truly enjoy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pieces of My Heart: A Life; Author: Robert J. Wagner; Review: So many people who I could not imagine being in his life, and who played such important and "interesting" roles in shaping who he became. I remember when Robert and Natalie Woods were married, and what a beautiful couple they were. And, what a tragic end to their love. Great book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Yellow House: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Falvey Page; Review: Reading the book just before a trip to Ireland, clears up a lot of the back history of why Ireland was split. The lives, work, and war was so well explained. Great book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orphan Train: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Christina Baker Kline Page; Review: Story of our American history that was unclear until reading this book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Christmas Wedding; Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: Love the story, and will always read James Patterson lighter stories, they are delightful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On Sunset Beach: The Chesapeake Diaries; Author: Visit Amazon's Mariah Stewart Page; Review: I have read a of the Chesapeake Diaries by Mariah Stewart and love all them. Can hardly wait for her next one; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blood Magick (Cousins O'Dwyer); Author: Visit Amazon's Nora Roberts Page; Review: Have read a three books, and love the trilogy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shadow Spell (Cousins O'Dwyer); Author: Visit Amazon's Nora Roberts Page; Review: Have read all three of the trilogy, and enjoyed everyone; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frozen (Little Golden Book); Author: RH Disney; Review: Granddaughter was thrilled; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The House At Riverton (Large Print Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Kate Morton Page; Review: Love the Irish history and family life, Hope she write another one soon; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 1225 Christmas Tree Lane (Cedar Cove); Author: Visit Amazon's Debbie Macomber Page; Review: Have read all of the Cedar Cove series and enjoyed every one; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 1105 Yakima Street (Cedar Cove); Author: Visit Amazon's Debbie Macomber Page; Review: Have read all the series and love each one for it's different story line; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Kitchen House: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kathleen Grissom Page; Review: Great book by great author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Linen Queen: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Falvey Page; Review: Loved the book and the Irish history behind it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kathleen's Fabric Locker Hooking; Author: Kathleen Carpenter; Review: Great help to project I just learned; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gray Mountain: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: Tells the real story of the coal mining industry; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy: A Righteous Gentile vs. the Third Reich; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Metaxas Page; Review: Learned so much that never knew about what really went on in Germany before and during the World War II and Christianity; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mrs. Lincoln's Rival: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jennifer Chiaverini Page; Review: I was surprised by the unhappy ending, but the rest of the book was very interesting for events of the time period.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jennifer Chiaverini Page; Review: I an a Lincoln fan, and enjoyed reading this book about Mary Lincoln; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt's Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer [Deckle Edge]; Author: Visit Amazon's Anne-Marie O'Connor Page; Review: The beginning was hard to follow for all the people involved. But, how the true owners of art work that was stolen by the German Nazis are even today still being found is very interesting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Mother's Ring: A Holocaust Historical Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Dana Fitzwater Cornell Page; Review: I have felt so ignorant of the terror that was part of the German terror. In reading this book, I find that even in the most terrible of treatment and conditions, people have hope for the next day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nora Roberts Land (Dare Valley); Author: Visit Amazon's Ava Miles Page; Review: Very predicable story; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mrs. Lincoln's Rival: A Novel - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Jennifer Chiaverini Page; Review: I was surprised by the unhappy ending, but the rest of the book was very interesting for events of the time period.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Suitor by Design (The Dressmaker's Daughters); Author: Visit Amazon's Christine Johnson Page; Review: Every once in awhile, I love to read a book that is just relaxing, not full of twists and turns, easy reading that keeps your attention.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Groom by Design (The Dressmaker's Daughters); Author: Visit Amazon's Christine Johnson Page; Review: Very easy reading that keeps you interested, but does not keep a list of characters jumping in and out of the pages.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What She Left Behind; Author: Visit Amazon's Ellen Marie Wiseman Page; Review: I loved this book, and was very happy with the way it ended. Easy read, but held my attention all the way through the book..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Truth: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Mariah Stewart Page; Review: Love the Mariah Stewart books, have almost read all of them. They hold your interest for mystery .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Basic Math and Pre-Algebra For Dummies; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Zegarelli Page; Review: I have always wanted to go back and relearn Algebra now that I am retired, so good way to start; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Big Book of the Dolls' House; Author: Visit Amazon's Jean Nisbett Page; Review: I found a lot of wonderful ideas and the way to make it; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cross Roads: What if you could go back and put things right?; Author: William Paul Young; Review: I LOVE this book and have shared it with others.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Certain; Author: Visit Amazon's Mariah Stewart Page; Review: Will read anything by Mariah Stewart; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eve (Thorndike Press Large Print Basic Series); Author: William Paul Young; Review: Very hard to follow. LOVED the Cross Roads, easy to read and very enjoyable. The Shack was very good, but Eve was hard to follow. Will have to read it a second time to see if I can understand it better; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crazy as a Quilt (A Harriet Turman/Loose Threads Mystery) (Volume 8); Author: Visit Amazon's Arlene Sachitano Page; Review: I love these books Arlene. So far, I have read all of them and can hardly wait for the next one; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eve; Author: WM. Paul Young; Review: Very hard to follow. LOVED the Cross Roads, easy to read and very enjoyable. The Shack was very good, but Eve was hard to follow. Will have to read it a second time to see if I can understand it better; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Last Look: A Novel of Suspense; Author: Visit Amazon's Mariah Stewart Page; Review: Will read anything by Mariah Stewart; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Quilt in Time (Harriet Truman); Author: Visit Amazon's Arlene Sachitano Page; Review: Love Arlene's writing, Have rad all her books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dolls' House Accessories, Fixtures & Fittings; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrea Barham Page; Review: Can hardly wait to start on my miniature housee; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quilt As You Go (Harriet Truman/ Loose Threads Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Arlene Sachitano Page; Review: Have read all of Arlene's books; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Curious George Tool Time (CGTV Board Book); Author: Visit Amazon's H. A. Rey Page; Review: Grandson LOVES it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2016 Italy Wall Calendar; Author: Visit Amazon's TF Publishing Page; Review: Love the scenery and the colors. Favorite Christmas to give one of my children; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monet 2015 Wall Calendar; Author: National Gallery Of Art; Review: Love his paintings; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aqualicious (Pinkalicious); Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Kann Page; Review: Granddaughter loves it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel James Brown Page; Review: LOVED this book. Based in Seattle and Pacific Northwest, and told a lot about what went on during that time at the Olympics.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Loving Frank: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Nancy Horan Page; Review: Tells the story of Frank Lloyd Wrights love affair and how it tragically ended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: True Love (Nantucket Brides Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Jude Deveraux Page; Review: Want more of the ghosts and island stories; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: For All Time: A Nantucket Brides Novel (Nantucket Brides Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Jude Deveraux Page; Review: Want more ghost and island stories; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ever After: A Nantucket Brides Novel (Nantucket Brides Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Jude Deveraux Page; Review: Want more of the ghosts and island stories; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: This Old Homicide (A Fixer-Upper Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Kate Carlisle Page; Review: Enjoyed as an easy book to read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crowned and Moldering (A Fixer-Upper Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Kate Carlisle Page; Review: Very easy to read, and good story line; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A High-End Finish (A Fixer-Upper Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Kate Carlisle Page; Review: Enjoyed as an easy book to read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deck the Hallways (A Fixer-Upper Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Kate Carlisle Page; Review: Love the series and hope there are more coming; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pop-Up Peekaboo! Things That Go: Pop-Up Surprise Under Every Flap!; Author: DK; Review: Fun for three year old grandson; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sophie's Ballet Show: A Sparkly Pop-up Extravaganza!; Author: Visit Amazon's Rosalinda Kightley Page; Review: Granddaughter loves it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saving Amelie (Thorndike Press Large Print Christian Historical Fiction); Author: Visit Amazon's Cathy Gohlke Page; Review: Found book very informative about the times and what was going on.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cinderella Murder (Under Suspicion); Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Higgins Clark Page; Review: Love Mary Higgins Clark work, it always hold holds your interest; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mini House: The Enchanted Castle (Mini House Series , No 6); Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Lippman Page; Review: Grandkids LOVE to look at them when they visit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mini-Express (Mini-Wheels Book); Author: Peter Lippman; Review: Grandkids LOVE to look at them when they visit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mini House: Noah's Ark (Mini House Book); Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Lippman Page; Review: Grandkids LOVE to look at them when they visit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mini House: Firehouse Co. No. 1 (Mini House Books); Author: Peter Lippman; Review: Grandkids LOVE to look at them when they visit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mini House: The Haunted House (Mini House Book); Author: Peter Lippman; Review: Grandkids LOVE to look at them when they visit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disappearing Nine Patch (A Harriet Truman/Loose Threads Mystery) (Volume 9); Author: Visit Amazon's Arlene Sachitano Page; Review: A little hard to follow as the story jumps between years. But, love reading it and the history it represents; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All the Light We Cannot See; Author: Visit Amazon's Anthony Doerr Page; Review: Great book, a look in to the times of WWII, will read it again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secrets She Kept; Author: Visit Amazon's Cathy Gohlke Page; Review: Cannot put it down; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lady in the Attic; Author: Visit Amazon's Tara Randel Page; Review: Love it, had to order all other books in serious.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Photo Album (Annie's Attic Mysteries); Author: Marlene Chase; Review: Love the mystery of these books and easy writing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Letters In The Attic; Author: Visit Amazon's DeAnna Julie Dodson Page; Review: Love the mystery of these books and easy writing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Map in the Attic; Author: Visit Amazon's Jolyn Sharp Page; Review: Love the mystery of these books and easy writing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Medals in the Attic; Author: Visit Amazon's Cathy Elliott Page; Review: Love the mystery of these books and easy writing. Have to collect the whole series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Package - Annie's Attic Mysteries; Author: Visit Amazon's Sharon Dunn Page; Review: Love the mystery of these books and easy writing. Have to collect the whole series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Ibis Cartagena Marbella; City: Cartagena Cartagena District Bolivar Department; Review: This hotel is a typical Ibis one... Nice bed, good wifi, nice breakfast and pretty decent location... Just 1 km from walled city and historical spots, near airport as well... The only bad is no pool... Recommended; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Madrid Aeropuerto Barajas; City: Madrid; Review: This hotel is a classsic minimalistic Ibis hotel, perfectly located near Madrid International airport, close to good pubs, restaurants, supermarkets, metro station... It is located in Barajas town, a nice calm place... I recommend it even for longer stays...Will come definitely; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Santa Marta Emile; City: Santa Marta Santa Marta District Magdalena Department; Review: Pros: This is a new brand hotel near Santa Marta airport. The hotel itself is very good, nice swimming pool, nice bar, nice wifi, good rooms and very nice beds... Excellent breakfast... Exclusive place in the beach with free umbrellas... A nice shopping mall is by 10 mins walk... Cons: They suffer from classical local bad practices, very common in Colombian coastal towns. Taxis (cabs) do not offer a flat rate from the hotel to anywhere, for instance to Santa Marta's downtown sometimes is USD 4, sometimes is USD 6, and in nights they charge an unofficial "extra cost" of sometimes USD 2 or 3, and so on. The hotel offer free umbrellas for their guests but once you get into the beach, local vendors appear to offer you everything you don't want (drinks, food, sunblocker, etc). If this hotel really want to get loyal customers who really want to stay again, they should set flat rates for taxicabs (public bus station is just 100m from the hotel), take care about local vendors in the beach (the dream of every single traveler is to go to a vendor-free beach !!!)... And please offer shuttle bus to/from airport (it's just 4Kms from the hotel) and it's the standard for Accorhotels in Europe and US !!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Madrid Aeropuerto Barajas; City: Madrid; Review: This is a very convenient airport in Barajas, it offers free shuttle from/to airport, good breakfast, wifi, big supermarket right next door, nice restaurants from walking distance, easy walk to metro (30mins to Puerta del Sol); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station; City: Shanghai; Review: Good hotel, meets all Mercure standards, nice breakfast, nice wifi... The room is good and comfy in general... The hotel offers a one-way shuttle to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station...The only thing to improve is that you cannot see the hotel from enywhere till you are in front of... I had to ask (around midnight) to a safeguard to locate the hotel... A good brilliant sign would be great...Tip: If you walk from the railway station you will see a "Yuwell" red sign after the elevated road, then enter to your left to that building complex and you will see the hotel...; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The President's Henchman; Author: Visit Amazon's Joseph Flynn Page; Review: I loved reading a book where they have a woman who is the president of the United States. It kept my interest and I couldn't wait to get to the end of the book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shirley Jones: A Memoir; Author: Visit Amazon's Shirley Jones Page; Review: I like Shirley Jones which is why I bought this book. It was interesting to find out how she got into show business but at times I found the book to be boring.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gray Mountain: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: Was boring to read and did not like the ending. NOt what I usually expected from reading a John Grisham book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Tumor: A Non-Legal Thriller; Author: ; Review: very informative. I have thyroid cancer and hope it can be used to cure that also. I think a lot of people do Not want a cure for cancer because it id's a big money maker for docs and hospitals.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Whistler; Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: Very interesting.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Women's Ring 925 Sterling Silver Genuine Gemstone: Sapphire; Brand: Silvanc; Review: this is a great ring ,ive worn it every day since xmas when i got it, the prongs that hold the stones in are good and secure and the sapphires are great color; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ASICS Women's GEL-Contend Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: comfy shoe and fit is right on, good for the price. im a avid walker and these are good for that too not just for runners.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kali Footwear Women Edit Floral T Strap Flat Thong Sandal; Brand: Hillflower; Review: real cute its a velcro fastner around the back im not crazy about the look of that,but the pattern makes up for it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Scholl's Men's Beck Oxford; Brand: Dr. Scholl's Shoes; Review: hubby liked them very much he usually wears a 9.5 thats what he ordered but they were to big so we exchanged for 9; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blowfish Women's Sangria Mule Bootie; Brand: ; Review: so cute but so uncomfortable, such a bummer i love the look but could never wear them so had to send them back.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 2(X)IST Men's Essential Cotton No Show Trunk Multipack; Brand: ; Review: hubby loves these hes a medium we ordered medium and perfect.higher up on the leg which is what he likes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: uni-ball 207 Retractable Gel Pens, Micro Point (0.5mm), Red, 12 Count; Brand: Uni-ball; Review: They're great! They write smoothly, and it won't smear much. I'm usually pretty picky about pens, but these rocked. I immediately threw away all of my crappy Bic ballpoints after I got these.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pentel Hi-Polymer Block Eraser, Small, Box of 48 Erasers (ZEH-05); Brand: Pentel; Review: Went to Target once and bought these. They work great!! When ever I make a dumb mistake, all I do is erase with this eraser and Bam! Clean paper!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point (1.0mm), Black, 10-Count; Brand: BIC; Review: These are okay pens that work when you need to take notes in class, but the ink runs out really fast and they dry up fast too. I'd recommend Uni-ball pens even though they're more expensive and come in smaller packs.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point (1.0mm), Red, 12-Count; Brand: BIC; Review: These are okay pens that work when you need to take notes in class, but the ink runs out really fast and they dry up fast too. I'd recommend Uni-ball pens even though they're more expensive and come in smaller packs.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: BIC Roller Glide Grip Pen, Fine Point (0.7mm), Black, 12-Count; Brand: BIC; Review: It was a bad pen. It would leak through my book pages. It was big. And in the end when I finally managed to rip it apart, I found there was NO ink, just a strip of dry ink that melted everywhere when I left it in the sun. Don't buy this pen. Get a Uni-Ball 207; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: uni-ball ONYX Rollerball Pen, Micro Point (0.5mm), Black, 12 Count; Brand: Uni-ball; Review: (bought these babies at staples) They work great!! If I ever need a cheap, good pen, I'd look for these!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: uni-ball Vision Rollerball Pens, Fine Point (0.7mm), Blue, 12 Count; Brand: Uni-ball; Review: My brother got a pack a' these at Target. ThEy RocK!111!! :P; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: uni-ball KuruToga Mechanical Pencil, 0.7mm, HB #2, 1 Count (1858549); Brand: Uni-ball; Review: I love this mech. pencil!! It is great! I won't use any crappy bic mechanical pencils EVER again!! PROS: -"diamond infused" lead helps with lead strength -rotating mechanism also helps with lead strength and offers perfect lines too -Professional design CONS: -Freaking small eraser Overall, epic mechanical pencil!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: strength & Deep & smooth -Uni-ball Extra Fine Diamond Infused Pencil; Brand: uni; Review: This lead is epic. It came with my Kuru Toga 0.7 mm. It NEVER breaks, I always use almost the ENTIRE lead, and they take FOREVER to wear down! It took me about 6 days to wear down 1 lead stick! This gives you 120 leads! Estimated time of use: 720 days \(O_O)/; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pilot FriXion Clicker Retractable Gel Ink Pens, Eraseable, Fine Point 0.7mm, Assorted; Brand: Pilot; Review: These are amazing pens, just bought em before the store closed. They erase perfectly. The only con is that the black one writes in gray.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pilot Namiki IC100 Fountain Pen Ink Cartridge, Blue, 12 Cartridges per Pack (69101); Brand: Pilot; Review: Great refill ink that I highly recommend for Pilot fountain pens!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pilot MR Retro Pop Collection Fountain Pen, Red Barrel with Wave Accent, Fine Nib, Black Ink (91432); Brand: Pilot; Review: Spectacular High-Quality Fountain Pen that I would recommend to anyone new to them. Ink is easy to refill, the nib works smoothly and great, and the included ink is good too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Office_Products |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Toysmith Magnetic Levitator Classic(Floating Revolution Axle); Brand: Toysmith; Review: This is a cool toy for the office but be prepared to have office mates stay and chat a little longer after they check this out.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Toysmith Magnetic Levitator Classic(Floating Revolution Axle); Brand: Toysmith; Review: This is a cool toy for the office but be prepared to have office mates stay and chat a little longer after they check this out.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Toysmith Magnetic Levitator Classic(Floating Revolution Axle); Brand: Toysmith; Review: This is a cool toy for the office but be prepared to have office mates stay and chat a little longer after they check this out.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Toysmith Magnetic Levitator Classic(Floating Revolution Axle); Brand: Toysmith; Review: This is a cool toy for the office but be prepared to have office mates stay and chat a little longer after they check this out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Faux Cabulary - The Outrageous Game Of Wild New Words; Brand: Out of the Box; Review: This game is fun as heck for adults but I'd question whether kids should play. Some of the word combinations are questionable. If you're a grown-up, want to have a blast making up stuff...this is the game for you.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Faux Cabulary - The Outrageous Game Of Wild New Words; Brand: Out of the Box; Review: This game is fun as heck for adults but I'd question whether kids should play. Some of the word combinations are questionable. If you're a grown-up, want to have a blast making up stuff...this is the game for you.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 10pcs Velvet Animal Style Finger Puppets Set; Brand: niceEshop; Review: These are fun and it's a nice addition to a diaper bag. We used these when we traveled on a plane for five hours with a 1-year old.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Corn Popper; Brand: ; Review: This is a cool toy but it takes a little force to get the wheels turning. The rotation get's the balls popping. My son is 16 months and might get it to pop once every 10 feet. Maybe that's a good thing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Corn Popper; Brand: ; Review: This is a cool toy but it takes a little force to get the wheels turning. The rotation get's the balls popping. My son is 16 months and might get it to pop once every 10 feet. Maybe that's a good thing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Corn Popper; Brand: ; Review: This is a cool toy but it takes a little force to get the wheels turning. The rotation get's the balls popping. My son is 16 months and might get it to pop once every 10 feet. Maybe that's a good thing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Corn Popper; Brand: ; Review: This is a cool toy but it takes a little force to get the wheels turning. The rotation get's the balls popping. My son is 16 months and might get it to pop once every 10 feet. Maybe that's a good thing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gazillion Bubble Machine; Brand: Funrise; Review: Found the same device on Wal-Mart.com and in the store for $9.88. That's $5.11 cheaper. They say it's free shipping but they basically raise the price to cover the difference. I would have given it 4 stars but since I got jipped I gave them one. Its getting frustrating having to double check Amazon's prices vs. Google Shopping. Then with and without shipping costs.I trusted Amazon to have the lowest prices but now, I have to double check everything now.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Bubble Mower; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: This toy is pretty cool. Like the description, it blows bubbles out the side.I did see sparks come out from underneath the unit one evening. Since we're surrounded by concrete it didn't phase me; however, if you live near dead grass - this toy is not for you. Sparks, you ask? Yes, I think the motor inside (the gears) have some kind of resistance contraption that gives the mower a "real mower feel." It spilled about 12 glowing embers before going out. Safety concern? Perhaps but like I said, it wasn't anything I needed to worry about.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Multi Voice Changer - 6.5", Colors May Vary; Brand: Tech Gear; Review: We got a purple one. I have as much fun with this thing as my son. The voice changer is interesting but it's not quite what I expected. It seems to raise and lower the pitch of your voice. For some reason I thought it would have a helium, monster, squirrel/chipmunk, kinds of settings.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Splashin' Bucky Bath Toy; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: The attachments don't float, but the little boat does. The sticky pads really work. I mounted this months ago and I don't recall it coming off the wall.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Kid Galaxy My 1st RC GoGo Fire Truck; Brand: Kid Galaxy; Review: I can't seem to get the battery casing undone from under the truck unit. I have to send it back. I turned the screw 50 times to the left and it won't come off.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Power Wheels Disney/Pixar Toy Story 3 Lil' Quad; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: For some reason I thought this would have been bigger. I had the power wheels in mind when I got this. It works great for my son; he fit's it well. Too bad there isn't a reverse on it, he get's stuck all the time. I need to run over and re-position him all the time but it's fun none the less.The battery takes a while to charge, but it lasts a long time.I thought maybe my 2-year old could ride along side me to the mailbox but it's way too slow. I attached a rope to it thinking I could pull him to my speed, but the gears didn't like that.Too bad it wasn't RC compatible. I'd be nice to turn, stop, and go for him so I'm not chasing him as much. Yes, I need the exercise so I can't complain.I spent a little more than I think I should have; something tells me I spent another $15.;00 bucks for the Toy Story theme but that's okay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Intex Ocean Coral Reef Snapset Instant Kids Childrens Swimming Pool | 58461EP; Brand: Intex; Review: This thing went right in the trash two day's after installation. Maybe I didn't follow the directions properly. dunno.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
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