DG's Album Reviews

DG's MUSICAL PREFERENCES: I'm an eclectic, so every type of music is reviewed here, except country and oldies (the only two musical types I do not like). The sources are pretty simple: they're albums I've purchased with my own money (not yet the big-time guy that gets them for free) and, to get reviewed here, they have to be relatively new. Most of the albums I do acquire are relatively new ones (e.g. still spawning singles), so most of my collection will be reviewed. I will, however, make references to albums of previous years that I've collected but, since I only started my World Issues Page in February, are not reviewed. I've been listening to music intensively for about five years now, and, having heard millions of songs over the years, I think I have a pretty good handle on what is good and what is not.

WHAT DG LOOKS FOR: First and foremost, the tracks have to be a pretty good listen. There's nothing worse than listening to an album that lulls you to sleep. Second, I look for creativity and originality, something to set the work apart from others in its class, and also to see if the artist, within the album itself, can also be creative and original. Third, it has to work. A discombobulated album won't score a lot of points with me, as it almost proves the artist didn't try too hard or "tried too hard". Fourth, I look for artistic merit- one should never forget that artists, in the end, create "art", so artists that can succeed in creating deep, sensual and overall stunning music get rewarded here. No "cookie-cutters" allowed.

Anyway, here are the reviews.

This Edition:
System Of A Down- Toxicity
Moby- 18
Emm Gryner- Asianblue
Green Carnation- Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness
Santana- Shaman
My Picks

System Of A Down- Toxicity

Rating: WWWW

Song Of The Album: "Aerials"

My Alternate Title: "Circus Freak Show With Guitars"

Genre: Hard Rock

For some people, before Toxicity, their first experience of System Of A Down was on the South Park album, as the rockers who provided the musical backdrop for the P. Diddy, Mase & Lil' Kim rap song "Will They Die 4 U?" Frontman Serj Tanikan didn't even sing a note, as the exploits of the band went unnoticed. After Toxicity debuted at No. 1 on Billboard late last year, System's full talents became well-known, as the rockers went from a cult band to mainstream rockers in almost the blink of an eye. They're still not exactly radio mainstays, but the success- and sheer quality- of Toxicity should make them mainstays the next time. Always a little different, System prove they're worthy rockers and expose themselves as one of true rock's few outfits, taking a delightfully playful turn while they're at it.

Perhaps the appearance on the South Park album almost explains everything the rock band is: almost a satire of themselves and everything around them. They confront issues- world or not- with the most sarcastic of tones, as the music changes almost playfully throughout the album and throughout the album's 14 songs. At first, they give the impression of dumb caveman rockers, but dig deep and you'll find that's the sound they intend, since they're only mantra is to make fun of what is troubling them- and thus, shoot it down in the process. "Presence sponsored fear/Battalions of riot police/With rubber bullet kisses/Baton courtesy/Service with a smile" Tanikan sarcastically declares in "Deer Dance", amidst the backdrop of a playful rock beat. Songs like "Prison Song" and "Needles" follow the same pattern, as Tanikan's yelling and the band's chugging, sometimes messy sound, instead of failing, actually work wonderfully to produce an effect that must be desired by the band. You'll find yourself laughing constantly at these guys, but not in a bad sense- it's real rock comedy and what a joy it is.

Still, System's sarcasm does take a bit to appreciate, so, at first, people may disregard System as a dumb band, and that's clearly not the case: System are a very bright unit and make their point very creatively. Even so, the listener shouldn't have to dig to find it, and, unfortunately for System, their style requires the listener to do such. Also, the guitar work is awfully simple, as it's really only a constant chugging sound that gets a tad annoying after a while. Keeping with the annoyance factor, Tanikan's vocals sometimes go there through his yelling, as Tanikan has yet to learn how to always ensure his yell isn't annoying, a la Disturbed's David Draiman.

Overall, "Toxicity" is a real rock keeper and a worthy addition to any collection. The sarcastic look at world issues is endearing and invigorating, and, with "Aerials", also show they can play the serious side well too. While Disturbed still has the rock lead with "Believe", System's "Toxicity" shows the Chicago boys they're willing to compete with the current greats, and what a battle that should be.

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Moby- 18

Rating: WWW

Song Of The Album: "Jam For The Ladies" f/Angie Stone & MC Lyte

My Alternate Title: "Relax�But Don't Sleep"

Genre: Electronica

Moby had plenty to prove following his unexpected smash "Play". After all, Moby expected to move probably a quarter of what he actually did, and that was millions worldwide. Hits like "Southside", "Porcelain", "Bodyrock" and "Natural Blues" established Moby as a star and looked like he was primed for even bigger things with "18", named so only because there's eighteen songs on the entire album.

Alas, this was not to be. The first half of the album is very dull and very uninspiring, including the pitifully dry "We Are All Made Of Stars", the album's first single. Sometimes songs have no progression at all and are just one, constant lull: a beat or a loop would have been nice. Many of the songs on "18" lack completeness and could have used a lot of work to improve them, as too many songs are just filler. Moby says he spends every waking moment thinking about music and I appreciate his energy and the genuine effort he puts into his work. However, despite all the work, maybe he could have spent a little longer fine tuning the album so that it truly is great and not another excuse to follow up "Play".

That said, "18" isn't a complete disaster. Songs like "Extreme Ways" and "Jam For The Ladies" featuring female rappers Angie Stone and MC Lyte, are nice upbeat tracks that do manage to spice things up, if only for a little. "Look Back", "Harbour" and "At Least We Tried" are also keepers, as they're great relaxation tracks and worthy to count among "Porcelain", Moby's best track to date. The second half is overall more energetic and a lot more entertaining than the first, but it's not that significantly good and doesn't really do too much to make one forget the dull beginning, unlike Eminem's "The Eminem Show".

While "18" may not be one of Moby's finer works and is more of an excuse to follow-up "Play" than a worthy follow-up, it isn't that horrible of an album. You'll probably enjoy this work but the overall lack of energy and completeness means you probably won't get as much out of "18" as you should. Moby deserves his praise because of all the time he does put into his work, but the truth is, despite all that his work, upon hearing it, definitely needed more work to make it truly great. Maybe this'll be something Moby will take with him for the next album, but, for now, "18" remains an album that could have been so much more.

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Emm Gryner- Asianblue

Rating: WWW

Song Of The Album: "Symphonic"

My Alternate Title: "Canada's Little Sleeper"

Genre: Adult/Alternative

Although, at first, Emm Gryner is a new artist, the truth is the 27-year-old Forest, Ontario native has been around for quite some time as an independent artist but is only now starting to get recognition with the deserved success "Beautiful Things". She boldly declares in the liner notes that the album was funded completely by Gryner and not by a major record company, even though Universal Music is now distributing the album. Fortunately for her, that's a good thing, as many people will listen to this and wonder what they've been missing.

From the get-go, "Asianblue" is a delightful adult/alternative romp that doesn't disappoint. The opener, "Symphonic", recalls Michelle Branch sonically- the smart, driving catchy/smart mix doesn't disappoint, exhibiting Gryner as an artist who can belt out the artistic pop tunes with the best of them. "Beautiful Things" is a downright beautiful song, sung very well and exceptionally smart, and, while it's not the best song on the album, it is still one of radio's better tunes at the moment. Gryner's songs are very well-written lyrically, while sonically she not only recalls Branch but Sheryl Crow ("Northern Holiday") and Chantal Kreviazuk ("Green Goodnight") as well, and, despite the similarities, she's a much more entertaining version of both, and the radios will be, no doubt, better for it.

Unfortunately, Gryner's album drags as it progresses, almost in a downward progression as opposed to an upward one like it should. It's not a massive drag but it is definitely noticeable, as Gryner, overall, fails to add enough energy to her sound to elevate it to the level of people like Branch, since "Asianblue" definitely has that potential. Speaking of the closer, "Green Goodnight", when Gryner sings "green" a wail is present, and while Gryner has a magnificent voice, the wail tires after a while and brings the closer down as a result.

Overall, "Asianblue" is an enjoyable adult/alternative romp that anyone can enjoy. Gryner's not the best at what she does but offers potential that she could rank among the best at some point. Meanwhile, it's hard not to enjoy her at the moment, and think in awe at what she'll definitely become.

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Green Carnation- Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness

Rating: WWWW

Song Of The Album: (Section) 42:00-44:00

My Alternate Title: "The Great Metal Orchestra"

Genre: Hard Rock

I'm guessing most of you have never heard of Norwegian metal outfit Green Carnation, but, after "Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness", you should. Described by the All-Music Guide's Bradley Torreano as a "madman", composer Tchort penned an hour-long epic that no doubt will register among rock's classics, dedicated musically to his son Damien Aleksander and lyrically to Christian and Christopher Botteri and meant to leave his musical legacy; and my, what a legacy that is.

First of all, one cannot begin without mentioning that this cannot be classified as anything but art- anyone with an hour-long epic can never break into the pop world, so the only clear motivation is to provide real art, which it is. It's a stunning masterpiece, as the music and the lyrics paint a very vivid and colourful picture open to many interpretations. Some of metal's more memorable lyrics can be found here: "I am lost but I am free", "A new world where right is wrong and justice is lost", and "I am emptier than never, but I feel complete" are just some of the highlights. Before I go on, I must note that this isn't Tchort singing but Kjetil Nordhus, as Tchort handles the acoustic and electric guitars as mainly a sidebar during the actual performance. He's an effective sidebar, I must note, and has as much talent musically as he does as a composer. Still, the spotlight's not entirely for him, as the epic's signature moment occurs in the 42nd minute, when Bjorn Harstad, the band's lead guitarist, lays down one of the absolute best guitar solos ever done. Upon hearing it, there's nothing more to do than add Harstad to the list of great guitarists, and, in a rock world devoid of truly talented guitarists, it's nice to actually hear one with it. Expectedly, "Light Of Day" ends appropriately, as the peaceful passage at the end beautifully closes a mostly dark album, offering a suggestion that this story does have a happy ending.

Still, what keeps the recording from a perfect score is the fact there's simply too many meandering and useless segments, especially in the beginning. The introduction is overall solid but the musical piece goes on for far too long, and, in the third minute, the rock segment is actually cut a bit too abruptly. From 11:37-13:25 the track is a tad dull, and, four minutes later, becomes a little messy. The problems are not consigned to the beginning- Synne Soprana's choir-like vocals in the 33rd minute are good on their own but the overall segment- with the sax back-up- it's in adds little to the overall score. As for overall, Nordhus' vocals, though superb for the most part, are sometimes not clear, as his dark tones makes some words indecipherable. It's not so bad that it ruins the track, but it's a quality Nordhus does have to work on.

Overall, "Light Of Day" is an epic you don't want to miss. It's an absolutely stunning piece and is overall one of rock's best releases in years. One cannot dismiss Tchort's artistic integrity, as art is the sole motivation behind this release. No matter what, with "Light Of Day", Green Carnation definitely deserve to belong with rock's true greats.

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Santana- Shaman

Rating: WWW

Song Of The Album: "Why Don't You And I" f/Chad Kroeger

My Alternate Title: "Presenting�Santana!"

Genre: Hard/Adult Alternative/Latin Rock

Carlos Santana had a lot to prove with the runaway success of "Supernatural": selling eleven million copies and winning eight Grammies, there was nothing more for Santana to do than offer an equally and/or more compelling follow-up. With a "who's who" of universally acclaimed artists on "Supernatural", Santana decided to go for the same, bringing in some of music's most talented artists of the moment to perform with him, like Michelle Branch, Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, P.O.D. and Seal, hoping for the same result.

While the end result doesn't add up to a critical slam dunk, it is still a very enjoyable album that ranks with "Supernatural". Santana's guitar is very distinctive, harkening back to an age when guitars had personality (like how Santana's does), and its unmistakable presence adds a lot to this album. Branch's track, "The Game Of Love", is, just like "Smooth", an amazing summer single, very light and a lot of fun, but, unfortunately for her fans, Branch didn't have a hand in writing this at all (side note: can you blame her? The lyrics are so bad I wouldn't want my name on them). Other highlights include the great party track "Aye Aye Aye" and "Feels Like Fire" with Dido, where the thought provoking line "every fool has a wise man" is found. However, the real standouts are "America" with P.O.D. and "Why Don't You And I" with Kroeger, both of which were written by the guests. The former is a love-lost song with a twist, as P.O.D. uses America as the girl in question as a very creative metaphor for the lost America, while Kroeger flexes his excellent writing muscle in penning a very thoughtful and reflective piece that compliments Santana's guitar exceptionally. The piece resembles "How You Remind Me" but it's far from a rip-off and is more of a homage to it than anything else, all the while proving that the horrendous "Hero" was a fluke in Kroeger's excellent writing repertoire.

Still, despite all the appearances, "Shaman" is still mainly a success because of Santana's guitar and nothing else. Many songs feature very simple and downright horrible lyrics and really need Santana's guitar to make any sense, as far too often the talents of the guests are simply wasted. Others are just too dull to take seriously, as not even Santana's guitar is able to save them. Still, what is most striking is the dull conclusion, heightened by the overall messy "Novus": Placido Domingo is a great opera singer but the truth is his vocals don't seem to fit in with the song: perhaps Santana should have thought this one out a little harder. Its placement is also terrible, since a dull song like this shouldn't close an album. The songs before it are not as good either, as the album takes a noticeable downturn after "Aye Aye Aye" and lessens the great vibe that had been present before. Completeness is one of the album's weaker points, but it's not so bad that it ruins the album.

"Shaman", overall, isn't a stunning landmark masterpiece that it probably should, but it isn't terrible either. It's a delightful Latin rock romp that will please everyone but probably won't enthrall them, so people looking for a masterpiece will probably be disappointed. Still, this album is a very good album and shows that Latin stars- unlike Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias- can actually produce good music for a change.

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My Picks

Well, this is a pretty diverse crowd but the picks do separate themselves nicely. Green Carnation, with its hour-long ode to artistic rock, come out on top, as their epic is clearly different from anything out right now and can only be classified as art, even if it's not exactly flawless. System Of A Down come in second with their hilarious, sarcastic take on world issues in their rock, and can do the serious side well too with "Aerials", one of dark rock's true keepers. Emm Gryner is third with her beautiful album "Asianblue", exhibiting the Canadian as an up-and-coming star to watch out for. Fourth is Santana and his guitar, as "Shaman" is an enjoyable romp but is so mainly because of Santana and is not exactly a complete effort for the most part as the talents of the guests are largely wasted. Fifth- and last- is Moby, whose passable "18" has its shining moments but overall, as a disc, it could have used a lot more work and isn't a worthy follow-up to "Play". Perhaps Moby will spend more time fine tuning next time around, since his album wasn't as good as it should be.

Next Month: Nick Carter and Justin Timberlake (I hope) get reviews, as I see if the former boy band stars have what it takes to stay in today's pop world. Also, the nominations for the 1st Annual DG Awards- where I highlight the best in music this year (note: there won't be any phyisical awards or a ceremony- I'm a University kid with very limited funds)- will be announced this month with the awards and a Top 100 for 2002 selected in the month of January.

-DG

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