Zox - The Wait (2005)

I'm not terribly familiar with Zox but they are a band that sounds alternative and ska. I thought the violin was an interesting mix to the sound. They're kind of like a very light 311 if anyone I figure since they also have reggae elements in the music. It's definitely a risk of me writing this review since it's borderline indie rock which is a no-no for me. A different kind of listen for me and I have to be in a specific mood to listen to something I don't really get a kick out of but intake the music. I know they have played at some of the big festivals I think it was Rock am Ring when I first saw or heard of them. They might have the record of youngest band to be reviewed on The Music Enthusiast. I looked into there biography and they only have three records out. There almost too bright for me to listen to, they must be a band that writes music just to get girls. I found some tracks by them I liked but, overall not too impressive. Songs to check out "Can't Look Down", "Fallen" and "Thirsty".


1. "The Wait" – 0:31
2. "Thirsty" – 2:37
3. "Carolyn" – 4:50
4. "Little More Time" – 4:06
5. "Anything But Fine" – 4:05
6. "Better If It's Worse" – 3:03
7. "Bridge Burning" – 5:44
8. "Big Fish" – 5:07
9. "Can't Look Down" – 3:32
10. "Satellite" – 3:37
11. "Fallen" – 5:14
12. "Spades" – 4:57
13. "I Am Only Waiting" – 4:16

Alice in Chains - Facelift (1990)

A defining of genre arose with the release of Alice in Chains first record Facelift. Many bands try to duplicate them and none could. They're one of those bands that just have it. I'll always believe in them as one of the most underrated bands even though they can sell a million each album. They had the best duet of all time in Cantrell and Staley and they wrote better music than anyone in the entire decade overall. They were incorrectly labeled grunge which you're an idiot to believe that because that's like saying Led Zeppelin is a heavy metal band. My point is many people only know "Man in the Box", if they gave a chance and listened to any other track on the album they would know that this band is probably a lot better than you thought. I've been listening to them my whole life, they don't write fillers they write all possible number one singles. That lineup Kinney-Cantrell-Inez/Starr with Staley is mindblowing. Layne Staley deserves to be one of the most recognized legendary deceased rock stars such as John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and Kurt Cobain. In my opinion he influenced me more than all those combined and many more. I know all of us Alice fans miss you and think about you every time one of your songs is on the radio or stereo.This album kicks ass and if you think Alice in Chains is stopping anytime soon your sadly mistaken because there new frontman William Duvall is a more than worthy replacement. Layne's voice lives on...Songs to check "Sea of Sorrow", "We Die Young" and "It Ain't Like That".



1. "We Die Young" 2:32
2. "Man in the Box" 4:46
3. "Sea of Sorrow" 5:49
4. "Bleed the Freak" 4:01
5. "I Can't Remember" 3:42
6. "Love, Hate, Love" 6:26
7. "It Ain't Like That" 4:37
8. "Sunshine" 4:44
9. "Put You Down" 3:16
10. "Confusion" 5:44
11. "I Know Somethin' ('Bout You)" 4:22
12. "Real Thing" 4:03

Helmet - Meantime (1992)

Helmet's second album is by far my favorite. It has there best single to date "Unsung" in it and it's an influential alternative metal album. They had a lot of hype around them at the time because there debut album Strap it On was really good and had major labels flying deals to get them for the second record (Meantime). You might of notice that a lot of the albums I review come from certain years and are clustered into the early nineties. The fact is in the music industry every hard rock and heavy metal bands were putting out good material because the labels knew there were money there and thus they put money up front for the recording process which is leaps and bounds of what labels will do for a lot of up and coming bands. They gave them a broader stance musically and now it seems since records sales are going down they can only produce stuff that's radio friendly. I don't like the fact that Indie Rock has taken the spot of heavy metal just because it's light and in the minds of sixty year old business executives saying no one would like to hear that trash. I understand it's a business but, I always felt like there shooting themselves in the feet by not helping artists funding and expenses since it's seen as a risk to do any metal record that's not already a establish name. If Helmet recorded Meantime I'd be willing to bet they would've never made that Gold record even though it's better than any Jon Bon Jovi album he's ever done. Songs to check out "Unsung", "In the Meantime" and "Turned Out".


1. "In the Meantime" – 3:08
2. "Iron Head" – 3:22
3. "Give It" – 4:17
4. "Unsung" – 3:57
5. "Turned Out" – 4:14
6. "He Feels Bad" – 4:03
7. "Better" – 3:10
8. "You Borrowed" – 3:45
9. "FBLA II" – 3:22
10. "Role Model" – 3:35

Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger (1991)

Soundgarden's third album Badmotorfinger is absolutely my favorite. This is there heavy record of there catalog. They were critically acclaimed and even went on tour with arguably the top band at that time Guns n Roses in 1992. They'd also be featured in Lollapalooza that year. They do sound a bit different from the previous release Louder Than Love but, Badmotorfinger was bassist Ben Shepherd first album which might have something to do with it sounding a more edgier and powerful. One of my favorite Soundgarden songs was being worked on during the recording process but, never finished. It was released on a movie soundtrack called "Singles" and they perform and play the song "Birth Ritual" in the film. On Revolver magazine's website they ranked Badmotorfinger at 26th greatest metal record ever. In my opinion this is there definitive album. Hopefully they'll do that reunion tour like promised. Songs to check out "Outshined", "Jesus Christ Pose" and "Rusty Cage".

1. "Rusty Cage" 4:26
2. "Outshined" 5:11
3. "Slaves & Bulldozers" 6:56
4. "Jesus Christ Pose" 5:51
5. "Face Pollution" 2:24
6. "Somewhere" 4:21
7. "Searching with My Good Eye Closed" 6:31
8. "Room a Thousand Years Wide" 4:06
9. "Mind Riot" 4:49
10. "Drawing Flies" 2:25
11. "Holy Water" 5:07
12. "New Damage" 5:40

Pride & Glory - Pride & Glory (1994)

Pride and Glory was a side project for Zakk Wylde. He played for Ozzy still but, I assume he thought Ozzy was going to be retiring soon. This is a southern rock album and showcased many of his talents because this is even before Book of Shadows not a lot of people I think knew he was into lighter stuff. He's a monster guitar player and to this day he still can rip into ten minutes solos believe me I've witnessed it live when I saw Black Label Society. He does everything in this album from the piano to mandolin to harmonica. I always like things to be different like this album sounds like it could've been released in the seventies but, it totally doesn't match where the actual time of release is. His songs never have to be catchy because he could play the guitar like a motherfucker. Songs to check out "Horse Called War", "Machine Gun Man" and "Cry Me a River".

1. "Losin' Your Mind" - 5:28
2. "Horse Called War" - 5:00
3. "Shine On" - 6:44
4. "Lovin' Woman" - 3:46
5. "Harvester of Pain" - 5:06
6. "The Chosen One" - 6:49
7. "Sweet Jesus" - 3:48
8. "Troubled Wine" - 5:39
9. "Machine Gun Man" - 4:56
10. "Cry Me A River" - 4:37
11. "Toe'n The Line" - 5:19
12. "Found A Friend" - 6:03
13. "Fadin' Away" - 4:56
14. "Hate Your Guts" - 4:36

Days of the New - Days of the New (1997)

Days of the New debuting album was successful with singles and sold quite well. Most people probably remember them from when they opened up for Metallica back in 1998. They were one of those bands that fought a lot which they broke up after the tour as singer Travis Meeks fired them then his former bandmates formed Tantric after. I actually caught an episode of A&E's Intervention which showed Travis' addiction problem specifically with meth. There self entitled album is very alternative and all acoustic. It's classified as post-grunge, the feel to them is kind of like Candlebox if you're familiar with them. I'm not sure if there'll be a new album release from Travis but, he's supposedly been working on the fourth album for a couple years now. It looks like the guys in Tantric will have the last laugh. Songs to check out "Touch, Peel and Stand", "Shelf in the Room" and "The Down Town".

1. "Shelf in the Room" – 4:44
2. "Touch, Peel and Stand" – 4:57
3. "Face of the Earth" – 5:17
4. "Solitude" – 4:11
5. "The Down Town" – 4:16
6. "What's Left for Me?" – 5:27
7. "Freak" – 5:23
8. "Now" – 5:04
9. "Whimsical" – 6:01
10. "Where I Stand" – 5:39
11. "How Do You Know You?" – 5:33
12. "Cling" – 15:27

Pearl Jam - Ten (1991)

Without a doubt, the best Pearl Jam album ever. I believe it sold like ten million records here in the states. It was one of those albums that creeped up on the billboard as it took sometime for people to figure out how good these new guys were. I still dispute with people with the Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots comparison because I definitely believe STP is the better band. I think Pearl Jam was the definition of grunge like Soundgarden and Nirvana were true grunge legends. Eddie Vedder has one of the most well known voices still in modern rock today. I heard Kurt Cobain call Pearl Jam as sellouts...big freaking deal. Would you like to be a band playing at Starbucks or selling millions of records making music to the masses to gain fans and recognition. This is a over fifty minute record that people would crave for today for alternative rock fans are wishing to see. Songs to check out "Alive", "Even Flow" and "Jeremy".

1. "Once" 3:51
2. "Even Flow" 4:53
3. "Alive" 5:40
4. "Why Go" 3:19
5. "Black" 5:44
6. "Jeremy" 5:18
7. "Oceans" 2:41
8. "Porch" 3:30
9. "Garden" 4:59
10. "Deep" 4:18
11. "Release[I]" 5:05