Age Of Insects - Skandalous All-Stars (The)

Advantages: Great Upbeat Album
Disadvantages: Leaves you wanting more

...I was handed this album and told to have a listen. Unsure of who the group were I was apprehensive. The album cover gives nothing away as on the front it shows a desert scene with the group name, 'Smash Mouth' in the top corner and an electronic scrolling sign post with the words, 'All Star Smash Hits'. On the rear of the cover there are photos of the group performing at a live venue, which initially I thought meant that album had been recorded 'live' - it hasn't. As the title of the album suggests, 'All Star Smash Hits', this is a greatest hits album cleverly named after the groups best known hit, 'All Star'. Don't know it? You will if you've ever seen the movie 'Shrek'. There are 20 tracks on the album, which was a surprise as I wasn't sure that this relatively fringe band had produced so much music - but they have and the 20... Read review

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Advantages: Bright music, listener friendly
Disadvantages: The odd weak track, lacking imagination

...And now for your reading pleasure, a band that I can be certain that 99% of you will not have heard of…Augustana…with their debut album “All The Stars And Boulevards.” Released on Epic Records in 2005, this quartet are, by first listen anyway, the nearest style the Americans have to a “Brit-pop” band…but saying that means they are nothing like Oasis/Blur/Suede/Pulp/Supergrass etc. Instead they represent a slightly pessimistic view on life…the fact that Americans only sing about the bad times shows they are oh so miserable people!! Opening track “Mayfield” shares a sound not to far away from the likes of Snow Patrol, Train or Mercury Rev from this side of the ‘pond’ if you will – there you go, you’ll feel as if you’ve known this band for years now! A loud, vibrant voice from vocalist Dan Layus on top of progressive rock music, that... Read review

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Advantages: A SELF PROFESED MASTERCLASS IN METAL
Disadvantages: NONE

...Roadrunner United is the collaboration of 55 artists under the roadrunner record label from 42 different bands. All of these artists were headed under 4 team captains: Joey Jordison (The power behind slipknots percussion and I believe still to be the worlds fastest drummer), Mathew K. Heafy (The voice, rhythm and lead player of the new metal core band Trivium - voted band of the year of 2005 across numerous magazines and websites), Dino Cazares (The main writing influence of industrial metallers Fear Factory before his premature departure from the band, currently he is working on his death metal band Brujeria as well as working with numerous other artist on recording etc.) and the final team captain was Robert Flynn (co-founder, singer, guitarist, song writer and producer of the old school metal band Machine Head). Together this... Read review

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