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When you loaded this page, I was listening to:

Courtesy of Kung Tunes

	Earth, Wind & Fire - The Best of E,W&F Vol. 1 - 40:20 - 1986 (75-78)
	One thing the excess of the 70's brought us that I really miss are huge bands like E,W&F, and War. Having so many resources for music can, and in this case does lead to full, rich sounds that you can listen to again and again. E,W&F blend smooth vocals, bright horn blast, with infectious rhythms, and often tempered with some sho nuff funk. They are sort of like a whiter "more acceptable" version of P Funk. Their other specialty is their mellow quiet storm/slow jam/love groove type of music, which despite the way it sounds, is also quite good. Songs like "Getaway" and "September" I feel represent them at their best.

	808 State - DonSolaris - 60:22 - 1984
	I bought this based on one guys statement that it sounded like Meat Beat's earlier work. Wrong! Not even close: there is one song that does sound like Meat Beat (and it is my favorite), but that's about it. Otherwise the only time I enjoy this CD is if I'm not paying attention to it, like when I'm trying to get into someone's pants or something. Occasionally various vocalist show up, which usually just makes it worse. One track has someone trying really hard to be Bjork - foolish mortals. Overall, the music kind of sounds like the result of a Tricky /Vangelis colaboration: it's kind of slow, but happy.

	Einsturzende Neubauten - Drawings of O.T. - 60:22 - 1984
	Back in the 80's, I used to think that angry Germans shouting and beating metal was pretty cool, but now that I'm an old man, I'm more apt to listen to "Hot For Teacher". I'm not sure that I ever particularly cared for this CD, but it's largely unlistinable now. They spend an inordinate amount of time moaning and wailing as if trying to pass a mace through his colon. I think the English translation to "Armenia" is "eject me now". The sound scapes are sparce, and just generally uninteresting. They have done better and so have other contemporaries.

	Einsturzende Neubauten - Halber Mensch - 48:28 - 1986
	This release is shows a much improved more musically and technically competent EN. There is less groaning and wailing, but there's still anger. The sound is more musical and less industrial: they use more keyboards and not as much metal stuff. The booklet provides English translation, which is nice. Having probably the second most tattooed band logo, EN were influential to many bands. But, you know when you hear one of your favorite bands rave about their influences, and you get it and it sucks? Well, I think that's the thing with most ground breakers, they act as a catalyst opening doors for others to go through.

	Einsturzende Neubauten - 80-83 Strategies Against Architecture - 41:21 - 1983
	As the name might imply, this is a collection of works including live tracks, singles, and other oddities from this avant guard, industrial trio. Unlike most CDs of this format, this one is actually better than most of their other straight studio CDs. There is a pretty good range of music that encompasses driving, throbbing, industrial rhythms to clanky, metallic, power tool, feedback, yelling to chanting trance like metal mantras, to experimental works with water. If you're interested in why so many people have their logo tattooed on them somewhere, check out this CD.

	Einsturzende Neubauten - Haus Der Luege - 34:33 - 1989
	Like I've mentioned in the past, the chaotic, mechanized clangs from one of Industrial's founding fathers, just doesn't do it for me any more. I really don't have much to say about this CD other than it's pretty boring, and has an unnecessarily long song on it. I guess this was around the turning point for Industrial, where keyboards started to take over, and the anger that EN brought started to mutate into more of a "creepy" drone like what Throbbing Gristle brought us. I'm really not sure how we got where we are with Industrial today, but I guess if you don't make a label, you won't know what to call something.

	Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue - 70:27 - 1977
	Much like their similarly monikered predecessors EL&P, ELO had strong ties to classical music. But, whereas EL&P turned classical into rock, ELO brought classical into rock. Although this was not a new concept, Jeff Lynne took it to a higher level and crafted some of the best pop songs ever. ELO's sound is ultra clean and reeks of countless hours of studio time. I consider Lynne to be the 7th Beatle mainly because of his trademark sound that sounds so much like a certain segment of the Beatles' music. All the songs from the double album made it onto this CD.

	Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer - 41:30 - 1971
	Most of you have probably heard the song "Lucky Man", (a song that Keith Emerson wrote when he was 12) and although it is a pretty good song, it is not a very fitting representation of the band's legacy. I would say about 93% of their music is not like that song, although it does offer a small taste of the ELP experience. Most of their music is instrumental, and very experimental; relying heavily on their fusion of Classical & Progressive Rock styles, as well as a taste of Jazz, and other misc. It's kind of hard to describe this band's sound, as it is so unique, you must experience them for yourselves. It's definitely polarizing too, you will either love or detest it.

	Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Trilogy - 42:27 - 1971
	In case you haven't noticed already, very few bands have made such an impact, and left such a lasting impression on me as ELP.

	Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Trilogy - 42:27 - 1972
	ELP was one of my first favorite bands ever, and I haven't grown tired of them yet. Their sound was just so unique, and unlike anything else. The way they fuse various musical styles together, while at the same time, creating something totally different, just got me. I never realized that most of their music were just reworked classical songs, which would always freak me out when I would hear the original. Plus, the way these guys used a Moog, was something in and of itself. They used it more as just another instrument, than say someone like Wendy Carlos, who would do Moog everything. Trilogy is perhaps their most mellow disc, which also makes it the most user friendly.

	Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Pictures at an Exhibition - 37:49 - 1972
	As live albums go, this one is quite unique. To start with, it's not music that appears on any of their other albums, moreover most of it isn't even their music. Basically what you have here is a reworking of classical material (of the same name) by Mussorgsky. I'm not sure what Mussorgsky would have thought about wacked out solos on bizarre Moog-ish contraptions, but then again, he might not mind because it did interest me in seeing the symphony do it properly. They even rework a reworked version of the Nutcracker. I think they just put this out to have more product out, but that's ok because it's pretty good. (unlike most live CD's)

	Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery - 45:01 - 1973
	I have always championed the cause of ELP, and as far as I know, I still don't have any converts. Even critics often wrote them off as a bloated dyno-ego-band, but I don't care, this band is awesome! Most of their music is rockified classical music. ELP always did their own thing and were HUGE. I only regret that I was too small to catch one of their monster concert juggernauts. Try to find the special edition release of this CD (reg price), because it recreates the original cover art (H.R. Giger) which was a gate fold die cut masterpiece. (best cover of all time!) Now, there's also a jazzed up cyber version with one of those "3D" flicker covers.

	Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Best of ELP - 38:55 - 1980 (72-80)
	You may know by now that I am not a big fan of greatest hits compilations, although I seem to have my fair share of them(this one was a gift). "The Best of..." has a really curiously chosen mix of songs, but I will give it credit for blending fairly well, which is extremely difficult to do with ELP's music. Like I mention on the box set review, when you excise single parts from the whole, the result is often a Frankenstein effect, a sort of good intentioned monster that's out of place in his surroundings. Again, I don't recommend this CD but not because of the quality of the material, and I strongly urge you to buy other ELP CDs!

	Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Return of the Manticore - 75:38+ - 1993
	I was really surprised to see this come out. I was starting to believe I was the only one who cared about ELP. Although the package is paved with good intentions, I find it mostly useless. There's quite a bit of re-workings, oddities & new stuff that is really only somewhat interesting. The songs are somewhat jumbled and don't give you the feeling that any of the albums do. I mean, what's with sticking a Christmas song smack in the middle of a CD. The booklet is great and very informative. If you're interested in checking out this great band, the general rule of thumb is the earlier the better.

	Entombed - Clandestine - 48:28 - 1991 (91-95)
	You can pretty much count on these guys to throw down the Gauntlet and set presidence on how you should go about rockin. This earlier release from one of CDjunkie's favorite band of merry sweeds, is more uptempo than later offerings, but still shocases their unmistakable heavy melodic sound. Having the extra speed makes it a little easier to get into, but I still favor the "heavy heavy monster sound" of "Wolverine Blues." This is a solid dose of mischief that will more than satisfy your daily requirement of metal.

	Entombed - Wolverine Blues - 35:13 - 1993
	Beavis & Butthead panned these guys, which I find highly surprising because in almost 98% of the time, their musical observations are dead on. How they could miss this one is beyond me. Especially "Wolverine Blues"; that is one of the coolest fucking songs of all time! Entombed has a fat grinding sound that will blow you away. Even though it weighs in at a paltry 35 minutes, it's so intense, that's all you could really take in a one sitting anyway.

	Entombed - To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak The Truth! - 39:52 - 1997
	I was really bummed when Entombed split up, and really excited when they came back, BUT... I'm not sure what it is, but there's something caricature-like about this CD that reminds me of Kiss and/or Danzig; neither of which I want to associate with this band. There's also a touch of Sabbath, which is not a bad thing, but I just want them to be themselves, or at least how I expect them to be. Even though I love the cover, and the picture of the band boarding the "Entombed lear jet", I'm just not sure how I feel about these guys having a sense of humor. So far it's just not really doing much for me, but I bet it will grow on me. (well no, now it's a few years later, and it hasn't improved much at all)

	Eric B & Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em - 54:51 - 1990
	Eric B & Rakim have always had traits sorely missing in their genre, class, sophistication, and maturity (although you think it going by that 50lb gold homage to Mr. T around Eric B's neck). It doesn't get much more laid back than this CD, which isn't a bad thing for this pair, because they are so good at it. However this isn't their best work, and does tend to loose your attention. I think the problem is that the songs generally follow the same formulas, and just sound to similar. I will say, other than Donald D, EB&R are probably the only rap artist to write a "love" song that didn't suck.

	Exploited - xx - 00:00 - 19
	Oi you lot, piss off! nothing to see here

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