METALLICA's "St. Anger" and the week's new CDs

[Ryall]

Your thoughts?

I bought way too many CDs this week. Not the hugest ZEPPELIN fan but that new live disc sounds pretty great, and it's a 3-CD set for only $19.99.

All the others I bought new were only $11.99, and RADIOHEAD next week is being advertised at only $9.99. Can it be music labels are finally getting smart and pricing things better to compete with downloading? I'd pay ten bucks for a new CD all day instead of downloading.

Anyway, METALLICA...it'll take some listening to, I think. The drums finally sound really solid and not as recognizably "Lars-like." It IS harder than their last few, but there's still nothing even "Blackened"-like at first listen. Nice to see some Pushead artwork on it, though, another nod to the old days.

I'm surprised how much I like the new MELLENCAMP disc--it's all covers of old blues and folk tunes, and that always works for me -- same reason I like the new BUDDY GUY, too.

I even bought DANIEL LANOIS, which is a bit foofy but good to have on while working. And I bought LOVE AND ROCKETS' and BRIAN SETZER's greatest hits because they were priced reasonably, too. Nice.

[brycejmcewen]

wow, how do i get my hands on those "mad phat" poop shoot checks you must be cashing to be buying all those cd's?

hows about getting some of that moon money for me too.

[Razorback]

I got it this morning and while I wasn't impressed with the St. Anger video and thought that what I had heard sounded weak and "too produced" the CD cranked up to 12 is raw in spots and a good listen. This is the CD that should have followed the "Black Album". I thought that I would never like another Metallica CD but this stuff is VERY F* GOOD.

Here is my initial take on each song:

Frantic - this should have been the single. This may not be the best song on the CD but it is tight and fun.

St. Anger - probably the weakest song on the CD. I am getting used to it though.

Some Kind of Monster - heavy... crunchy... me like!

Dirty Window - sounds like all of the good covers the band has ever done, finally they write a song that is as much fun as their covers.

Invisible Kid - sweet Jesus these guys have changed their sound... Fear Factory-like riffs mixed with a few other styles... HOW CAN YOU NOT LIKE THIS STUFF?

My World - who are these guys? I really like this new band. I have to buy their CD. The singer sure sounds a lot like James Hetfield from Metallica. /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif Anyway, this is another one of those songs that sounds like one of their brilliant covers of late 70's and early 80's NWOBHM songs... except that they have written this one. Not the best song on the CD but I won't skip it anytime soon, plus this is probably a fun song live (as it seems on the DVD).

Shoot Me Again - grrrrrrooooooove baby! Hetfield has written some cool riffs on this CD (some of which you can't hear due to the over-production of his vocals but oh well). Nothing too original (you can find this stuff elsewhere) but when absorbed with the vocals and supporting cast it works. A good filler.

Sweet Amber - this starts off sounding like something out of the last 2 CD's... oh no... not a slow song please... wait! KICK ASS!!!!!!!!! Ok so it's not kick ass but it's not Load or Re-Load. Second weakest song on the CD but it's still better than anything on the last 2 (in my opinion of course).

The Unnamed Feeling - this sounds like another influence change song. I want to know what the Metallikatz have been listening to lately because there is a huge departure on many of these songs from any of their past sounds. I like the riffs but this is the slowest song on the CD and almost sounds like something Bon Jovi would write if he "went heavy". /forums/images/icons/wink.gif Granted, it is heavier than anything on the last 2 CD's.

Purify - whew... back to the heavy/fast stuff. Getting closer to the end of the CD the boys hit us with a song that will probably kick ass live. The only problem with this song is that I can hear some good stuff happening "in the background" that doesn't translate as well on the CD as it does on the DVD. Anyway, really good song that I would love to see live.

All Within My Hands - Starts of heavy... then goes wussy... then goes heavy... then goes speed... then goes heavy-groove (ooooh) for the "chorus"... then it drifts into Load for two seconds and goes soft again... wussy... heavy! You get the idea. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif It is good.

Overall, I rate this better than the last 2 CD's. It is somewhere in between "The Black Album" and "Garage Days Re-re-Visited". B+ (might even deserve an A- for including the DVD).

RB

[Ryall]

Damn, nice recap, man. You just made me want to listen to it again. Besides, the endless "Moby Dick" drum solo on that Zeppelin disc was killing me. Who wants to hear a drum solo on CD?

[Razorback]

I am watching the DVD over again (some people may not know that the DVD is them playing these songs live and not just "live" video with the music from the CD) and the experience is even better there.

I think you mentioned in one of your columns how their MTV Icon jam (of their old material) reminded you of how good these guys used to be, well I think that the DVD reminds me of those days except that it is happening now. This is a Metallica CD that I think people will be proud to own.

RB