I
didn't like it. I guess I should say a little more about that. They sound a
little bit like Fugazi, but with a lot less to say. Caterpillar Tracks
tried....really hard. They really want me to believe that I am listening to the
next big thing. I don't buy it. Then again, they don't want me to buy it. They
want to write songs they can believe in. They sound all right. I guess I'd
describe it as punk rock on a bad date. You know, punk rock who took all that
time getting ready and even cleaned under his fingernails, but then put on the
worst cologne ever. Then to make things worse, punk rock took you to a coffee
shop instead of a restaurant, stuck you in a back room, lit a candle to get
romantic (completely unaware that you are not interested at all) and told you
everything you believe, politically and otherwise, is stupid. That was this
album. Caterpillar Tracks is clean and neat, no feedback, muted instruments,
clear vocals, or intensity and passion. On the surface they have all the makings
of a good band, but they need something more to make them a great band. (Feowyn
A. MacKinnon)
Here's
a fun little record. It's a record mostly in Spanish, with a funky hip-hop vibe
to it. From the synth funk of the opener "Guerrerio" to the more laid back feel
of "Acorda, Simpatico", it's an album that always feels good to listen to. It's
released by Quannum, home of DJ Shadow, so it's got some bugged out
electronic/hip-hop rythyms and tones to it. I really enjoyed the album's only
english track "You Haven't Done Nothing", with it's cool acoustic guitars and
it's spanish drums. The singer's voice is pretty good, too. It's got a really
good vibe to it. This album is kind of like a Spanish Beck. Check it out for
something different. (Eddie Fleisher)
Neil
Diamond has been a prolific songwriter for quite some time. From his early days
writing songs for others to the days when he became a star himself. He began as
a singer/songwriter type, playing folk with his signature voice and a trusty
acoustic guitar. Through the years, Neil's career became tainted by over the top
pop numbers and a lot of pure cheese ballads. Recently, he was approached by
legendary producer Rick Rubin, who basically sat him in a studio and asked him
what the hell happened? After hours of listening to his old songs with Rubin, he
was put in the studio with some pencils, a pad of paper, and a guitar. Diamond
had abandoned playing his guitar years ago. The result is probably not only the
best record he's ever made, but one of the year's best too. Diamond's voice has
never sounded better or more sincere. It's an album that's not cluttered with
instruments. It has soft guitar melodies, some simple percussion, some piano,
and of course, the most important part, Neil's voice. His lyrics are touching
and really tell the story of a man looking back at his life. In "Hell Yeah", he
asks himself if it was all worth it. In "Evermore" he looks back on lost love.
And in "We" he comes to grips that love is not about one person, but a team.
It's like a book of all the things he's learned. His emotional lyrical
performance is captivating and never seems to fail. One of the best tracks on
the disc, is "I'm On To You", in which Diamond in a gravely voice proclaims
"Take anything you want, I'm on to you". The song is set to minimalistic
percussion, some organ, and a few horns, which give it a jazzy, Tom Waits feel.
Rick Rubin has done his magic again, as he did with the late Johnny Cash, and
has helped Diamond create a record that will please all his fans, both those who
loved his early days and those who liked the pop stuff. It should also introduce
him to a whole new generation of fans who aren't familiar with him either way.
In "What's It Gonna Be", he says "I may not be a hero, but I'm the man you
need". Yes, Neil, indeed you are. (Eddie Fleisher)
Dream Theater is
back with an amazingly solid progressive rock masterpiece. I swear, this band
keeps amazing me...just when I think that they've GOT to be running out of
ideas, they come out with another collection of melodic yet insanely complex
music that gives me hours of listening pleasure. Of course, if you've never
liked Dream Theater, then ‘Octavarium’ isn't about to change your mind. It has
that definite Dream Theater sound, but with a cutting edge that keeps things
lively and evolving. What keeps Dream Theater ahead of the prog metal pack is
their attention to melody. Every song features melodic vocals that stick in
your mind for hours...this isn't just riffing for riffing's sake. "Answer Lies
Within" is as tender a ballad as anyone could ask for, but it has a classical
edge that keeps it from getting sappy. And of course the 23 plus minute title
track is a real treat. Guys, you did it again! The Heathen Hippy gives it four
extended keyboard solos. (Taliesin Govannon)
I
didn't like it. I guess I should say a little more about that. They sound a
little bit like Fugazi, but with a lot less to say. Caterpillar Tracks
tried....really hard. They really want me to believe that I am listening to the
next big thing. I don't buy it. Then again, they don't want me to buy it. They
want to write songs they can believe in. They sound all right. I guess I'd
describe it as punk rock on a bad date. You know, punk rock who took all that
time getting ready and even cleaned under his fingernails, but then put on the
worst cologne ever. Then to make things worse, punk rock took you to a coffee
shop instead of a restaurant, stuck you in a back room, lit a candle to get
romantic (completely unaware that you are not interested at all) and told you
everything you believe, politically and otherwise, is stupid. That was this
album. Caterpillar Tracks is clean and neat, no feedback, muted instruments,
clear vocals, or intensity and passion. On the surface they have all the makings
of a good band, but they need something more to make them a great band. (Feowyn
A. MacKinnon)
Here's
a fun little record. It's a record mostly in Spanish, with a funky hip-hop vibe
to it. From the synth funk of the opener "Guerrerio" to the more laid back feel
of "Acorda, Simpatico", it's an album that always feels good to listen to. It's
released by Quannum, home of DJ Shadow, so it's got some bugged out
electronic/hip-hop rythyms and tones to it. I really enjoyed the album's only
english track "You Haven't Done Nothing", with it's cool acoustic guitars and
it's spanish drums. The singer's voice is pretty good, too. It's got a really
good vibe to it. This album is kind of like a Spanish Beck. Check it out for
something different. (Eddie Fleisher)
Neil
Diamond has been a prolific songwriter for quite some time. From his early days
writing songs for others to the days when he became a star himself. He began as
a singer/songwriter type, playing folk with his signature voice and a trusty
acoustic guitar. Through the years, Neil's career became tainted by over the top
pop numbers and a lot of pure cheese ballads. Recently, he was approached by
legendary producer Rick Rubin, who basically sat him in a studio and asked him
what the hell happened? After hours of listening to his old songs with Rubin, he
was put in the studio with some pencils, a pad of paper, and a guitar. Diamond
had abandoned playing his guitar years ago. The result is probably not only the
best record he's ever made, but one of the year's best too. Diamond's voice has
never sounded better or more sincere. It's an album that's not cluttered with
instruments. It has soft guitar melodies, some simple percussion, some piano,
and of course, the most important part, Neil's voice. His lyrics are touching
and really tell the story of a man looking back at his life. In "Hell Yeah", he
asks himself if it was all worth it. In "Evermore" he looks back on lost love.
And in "We" he comes to grips that love is not about one person, but a team.
It's like a book of all the things he's learned. His emotional lyrical
performance is captivating and never seems to fail. One of the best tracks on
the disc, is "I'm On To You", in which Diamond in a gravely voice proclaims
"Take anything you want, I'm on to you". The song is set to minimalistic
percussion, some organ, and a few horns, which give it a jazzy, Tom Waits feel.
Rick Rubin has done his magic again, as he did with the late Johnny Cash, and
has helped Diamond create a record that will please all his fans, both those who
loved his early days and those who liked the pop stuff. It should also introduce
him to a whole new generation of fans who aren't familiar with him either way.
In "What's It Gonna Be", he says "I may not be a hero, but I'm the man you
need". Yes, Neil, indeed you are. (Eddie Fleisher) 
Dream Theater is
back with an amazingly solid progressive rock masterpiece. I swear, this band
keeps amazing me...just when I think that they've GOT to be running out of
ideas, they come out with another collection of melodic yet insanely complex
music that gives me hours of listening pleasure. Of course, if you've never
liked Dream Theater, then ‘Octavarium’ isn't about to change your mind. It has
that definite Dream Theater sound, but with a cutting edge that keeps things
lively and evolving. What keeps Dream Theater ahead of the prog metal pack is
their attention to melody. Every song features melodic vocals that stick in
your mind for hours...this isn't just riffing for riffing's sake. "Answer Lies
Within" is as tender a ballad as anyone could ask for, but it has a classical
edge that keeps it from getting sappy. And of course the 23 plus minute title
track is a real treat. Guys, you did it again! The Heathen Hippy gives it four
extended keyboard solos. (Taliesin Govannon)