Sept 09 2002 Critical Mass 3 Metropolis Sampler Metropolis 2002 kkk If you have read the reviews of Metropolis artists, and wanted to hear more from their cata- log but don’t know where to start, you need Critical Mass 3. This is an excellent sampler of recent tracks from the stars of the Metropolis lineup. KMFDM, VNV _ Nation, Frontline Assembly, wumps- cut, and Funker Vogt are just some of the bands that con- tribute to this pounding indus- trial mix. Great music for the curious, and an excellent way to get to know some of indus- trial music’s biggest stars, so go buy it already. Kathleen STONESOLR Stone Sour Stone Sour Roadrunner 2002 kkk Stone Sour is often described as a side project of Corey Taylor and Jim Root (Slipknot vocalist and guitarist respec- tively) but in reality, both Taylor are Root were in Stone Sour before they went on to join the nine headed -death metal beast that is Slipknot. Stone Sour’s music is less abrasive than Slipknot’s, and repre- sents a return to the kind of music that Taylor and Root started playing, more focused on melody and song structure than on raw anger. Which is not to say that this CD isn’t heavy. Taylor and .Root certainly haven’t mel- lowed out, and tracks like Get Inside and Tumult prove this, but most of the tracks are heavy in a rock and roll way, rather than a tortured insane death metal way of Slipknot. Both Taylor and Root flex more of their musical muscle in Stone Sour, the music is more complex, oriented towards the guitar and exer- cising the incredible range of Taylor’s voice. There is more here than just metal as well, the reworked, and better ver- sion of Bother (from the Spiderman soundtrack) is a haunting ballad, and Taylor even waxes poetic on the sub- jects of government control and freedom on the spoken word track Omega. Overall, Stone Sour is far bet- ter than your average nu- metal band, and is well worth the listen. Kathleen Queens of the Stone Age Songs for the Deaf Universal 2002 kkk Songs for the Deaf is great. Once again Queens of the Stone Age have turned out what no one has heard before. As usual, they draw from any musical pallet which will cre- ate the effect they want to cap- ture. This album is QOTSA’s version of the radio. Each song varies as they explore the kind of songs that people ignore on the radio, hence, Songs for the Deaf; music for people who are not listening to what they hear. The same goes for the song, “The Sky Is Fallin’ where the chorus tells you to “close your eyes, and see the sky is fallin’” These seems to reiterate that no one pays attention as they should, but enough about how much the radio sucks. This album also features the musicianship of Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame (don’t worry, he actually is a wicked drummer, especially on this album), and Mark Lanegan, of Screaming Trees fame, on some vocal tracks. In summa- ry, BUY THE ALBUM IF YOU VALUE YOUR IMMORTAL SOUL!!! But I’m biased. The best album to come out this year (assuming Devin Townsend doesn’t put out something before Christmas). Chris Danko Jones Born A Lion Universal 2002 ax Danko Jones, Toronto based indie idol has brought his garage sound to Universal Music. He has been tearing up the Toronto music scene since 1996, bringing new levels of | sexuality in his live shows. The style can only be consid- ered heavy guitar driven garage rock. With heavy bass rhythms and strong drum- beats (easily identified in the beginning of ‘Lovercall’), the music has a consistent and somewhat classic sound. He has a traditionally half-scream talk singing that he has used to the fullest extent possible. The lyrics, however, leave a lot lacking. It is seemingly one dimensional, with narcissistic tendencies that lean more towards a degradation of nat- ural relationships and women in general. They tended towards a simplistic repetition ' of the same half created lyrics. A good musical effort through- out the album but perhaps vocal lessons and a read through ‘Basic Songwriting’ would be helpful. Stephanie The Murderdolls Beyond The Valley of The Murderdolls Roadrunner 2002 k* The .Murderdolls are the glam/goth/Alice Cooper/punk brainchild of Joey Jordison (otherwise known as Slipknot's masked drummer, #1) and Tripp Eisen (Static X). With the collaboration of members from two of the heaviest metal bands around, the Murderdolls should be much better than they are. What is now the Murderdolls started out as ‘The Rejects’ a Des Moines punk/glam band featuring Jordison and Eisen on guitar and enigmatic front man Dizzy Draztik along with some other guys who aren’t really important. A few months ago, the band split suddenly (supposedly amicably) with Draztik going off to form ‘Bomb Pop Mafia’ and Jordison and Eisen regroup- ing, and~ quickly putting together The Murderdolls with a roster of all new members. The reason I’m telling you all this is. that it might go towards explaining why The Murderdolls are so damn awtul. There are almost no redeem- ing features to ‘Beyond the. Valley of the Murderdolls’. Over The Edge Page 7 Poor production, inane lyrics (my personal favorite is “old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E- l-Oh my god”), interchange- able, dull songs that are all in the same tempo, and a vocal- ist who has no vocal range or variety to his singing are the worst of The Murderdolls offenses. In their defense, The Murderdolls have never pre- tended to be a serious band, and the music is fairly catchy, in a brutally retarded kind of way. Jordison is a skilled gui- tarist, but neither his nor Eisen’s star power can save this dud of CD. Kathleen Blue Light One An Upstairs Recordings Compilation Upstairs recordings 2002 Kk Upstairs Recordings, created in 1999, has put out a new compilation disc of artists signed to them. Mostly down- tempo techno music, the CD Blue Light One has an inter- esting assortment of 12 tracks, all of which sound exactly like one another, and none of which will last longer than the time it takes to listen to them. The songs, which come from artists like The William Caslon Experience, The Verbrilli Sound, POM, and Earball, are dull, repetitive, and go nowhere fast. The CD on the whole is very relaxing, and could be considered for a quiet night at home as back- ground noise. If you’re looking for some music to listen and or dance to, find something else, because this CD is boring, dull and extremely repetitive. Josh