Ants going mad! (Anthology - Alien Ant Farm)

Member Name: Roach

Product:	Anthology - Alien Ant Farm
Date:	13/09/01 (162 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant Music, Good debut album

Disadvantages: a few weak links in calico and universe

OFF PAPA ROACH’S OWN RECORD LABEL, I PRESENT ALIEN ANT FARM FROM RIVERSIDE CALIFORNIA!

Right, Alien Ant Farm (AAF) consist of the following bands members:

Dryden Mitchell is Lead Vocals!
Tye Zamora is a Bass Guitarist, with a few adding background vocals!
Terence Corso is the guy who plays the Acoustic and Electric Guitar!
Mike Cosgrove is the Drummer!

The music that AAF produce is a mixture of funk/rock metal, though believe me the sound is very good and so this brings me onto their brilliant debut album, Anthology! Here is a track by track analysis on how I hear it: -

COURAGE

This song is a very powerful opening. The song has a distinctive drum beat in the background, and has strong electric sounds. I find this song really easy to mosh too, because of the repetitive riffs. I know this is an early stage to be saying this is my favourite song, though truthfully it is and a very welcoming track to the album. I predict this to be a hit when released!

MOVIES

Again, this song was a hit when it was released and the first AAF song I heard. I was very impressed, again it gave me good first impressions and I like that in a band! The song is now as energy-going as Courage, though it has a very strong drum beat as well as a powerful chorus. Another un-missable track!

FLESH AND BONE

If I say honestly, I doubt this song will be released as a single. However, this don’t mean I’m saying it isn’t good as on the contrary I do like it. It starts off quite quietly and as you move into the chorus it gets a little louder, and plays at a higher tempo. I feel it’s only going to be an album track.

WHISPER

This starts off with the electric guitar playing a small part, following by drums and then lyrics. I don’t think Dryden sings to his best ability on this song, with a lot more screaming/shouting type sin
ging. Again only ever going to be an album track, though it’s is full of energy.

SUMMER

A long introduction in this song of electric guitar and drums finally leads you into vocals. Dryden’s voice is soft as he sings it quite sweetly, I think. I would buy this song if it comes out as a single, though I’m not sure if it will be. There is a steady beat throughout the song, and the lyrics in this song are also good.

STICKS AND STONES

I am positive that this song will be released. I think the lyrics are catchy and have found myself some days with them in my head. The song has a fast tempo, although Dryden’s voice is not soft, it’s not screaming either and it sounds very good. I like it, another good single if there is one!

ATTITUDE

I’m nothing but full of praise for this album. Attitude, is another high tempo melodramatic song by AAF. The Electric’s are also high tempo, a very good song for moshing! This is maybe one of the reasons I like it, I think of the fun I could be having at a gig and also the lyrics give me a buzz. Dryden has quoted this is his favourite AAF song, so you never know, we may be seeing this as a single soon!

STRANDED

A standard album track this one. I don’t mean this as a criticism to the band, I just wouldn’t buy the single, though enjoy listening to it on my album. They have better tracks in other words. It has got a good tempo and god rhythm going and again one for the moshers. Lyrics wise this song is standard, though I have to say the chorus is really energetic and carries the song along.

WISH

Dryden’s sings sweetly in this song, well in the first few lines…the song then bursts into a powerful chorus. I love this song because of the way it all kind of builds into a climax, the climax being the chorus. The lyrics are really effective again. It has a different sound that some
of the other tracks. A possible chart-topper!

CALICO

This song is very strange to me. I honestly don’t like it, maybe I’ll warm to it soon, though I doubt it. It sounds ok energy wise, enough electric’s and a good steady drum beat, though the lyrics aren’t too good in my opinion and well, not my favourite track!

DEATH DAY

I said at the beginning that Courage was my favourite track, Death day is my second favourite. It starts off softly, lyrics are brilliant and then builds up again into a powerful chorus, one I wont forget in a hurry and basically just love, I know Dryden shouts a little, though in context to the song it’s very effective. Certainly has to be heard!

SMOOTH CRINIMAL

I know this song is a Michael Jackson cover though a very good one. I have repsect for Jack, the music he made was brilliant and to me the rest was irrelevant, I know others think it matters, though it’s his music we love and nothing else. This classic song anyway, I’m sure you have heard it off one of jacko’s albums or most recently on MTV, the video was released a few weeks ago and the single is being released very shortly. I think this song will make the top five at least. As they say the rest is history.

**Smooth Criminal was released last week, entering the Brittish Charts at No 3, and the Rock Charts at No1**

UNIVERSE

I won’t write much on this song, as I don’t really like it. It is too soft sounding and slow in tempo for my liking. The repetitive riff of the guitar is a distinctive attribute of the song, though the lyrics are nothing outstanding by any means.

So the album Anthology on the whole gets a thumbs up. It was a very good buy for me, I enjoy listening to it. The album is not one with a few good tracks, one with a few weak links – Calico and Universe. I have seen Alien Ant farm live twice, once while suppor
ting the Roach, secondly live at Glasgow Gig on the Green! Both times they were outstanding and when they come back to Scotland soon, I’ll be first in the queue to buy a ticket. This album is not one for the top shelf and for the dust to gather on.

It has to be heard to be believed!

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