Still waiting to love it. (Waiting For The Punchline - Extreme)

Member Name: cdcclub

Product:	Waiting For The Punchline - Extreme
Date:	23/08/08 (53 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: some good funky rock tracks

Disadvantages: tracks that are hard to connect with or feel

This is Extremes 4th album originally released in 1995 and was there first album that did not include Paul Geary on the drums.

Vocals- Gary Cherone
Guitar- Nuno Bettencourt
Bass- Pat Badger
Drums- Mike Mangini

This album was one of the first that I had heard that set the cat amongst the pigeons for Extreme fans as a lot of them just didn't get it or in fact like the album. For me personally I could still see the quality of the band in their ability to write and perform. I would say out of all the Extreme albums this is the one that has a harder edge that really evokes an angrier message from the band unlike what they had produced before but for me at the time it was released I was still a teenager coping with life in the big bad world so this kind of music really did go along way into how I was feeling at the time.

As with all of Extremes albums I still take the time to listen to my favourite tracks from each album.

There is no God- starts off with a slow rock feel intro onto a hard hitting catchy guitar styling's from Nuno. For me it is all about the confusions within all religions and non believers, I like the overall feel of the track that really has Extremes stamp written all over it. As with a lot of tracks there are some well placed harmonies. I think this track is mainly about the lyrics and boy do they speak out.

Cynical- a slow funky track with great bass lines. I like Gary's vocals on this track his use of tempo and ability to use all his vocal range by flowing up and down throughout the track sets him apart from a lot of other rock vocalists. It is perhaps not a track I personally reach for a lot of the time but that's not to say it lacks merit. A very basic track.

Tell me something I don't know- A smoother sounding rock track here that lets you really hear the soft tones Gary can pull off. A song that feels more a chill out vibe but does have a touch of that anger that comes out throughout the album. Again not a particular song I am over joyed with but pleasant enough to listen too.

Hip Today- I just love this song, it is an Extreme classic. A funked up rock track that just screams Extreme. Funky bass with Nuno guitar styling at his best. Just takes on the ever changing world of stardom how you might be famous today but tomorrow you could be at the bottom of the pile. I find this song easy to sing and have to admit it never fails to get me dancing about like a lunatic trying to create a Gary hip swing.

Naked- This never fails to get my longing to grab a hold of Gary Cherone and tear his clothes off. His singing for me on this just puts me into a sexy mood, just his sultry tones hits me every time I here it. OK I am not sure if it is because he keeps singing about being naked and being in his birthday suit but either way I have a smile on my face. Probably wasn't a good idea to listen to this track whilst writing may take me a while to calm down and get on with writing now ( all hot and bothered )

Midnight express- for any guitar fans here this is a track to listen out for, no lyrics or vocals here just Nuno doing what he does best. A great acoustic instrumental from a rock God, fast passed country flavoured track that shines out talent.

Leave me alone- as I had mentioned before this album kind of summed up my life at the time and for me this is a signature track to my life as a teen. If you have ever felt you wanted to be closed off from the world for a while and couldn't be bothered with people fussing around you then this track just tells everyone else how you feel. A great slow sounding funky track that just conveys for what I was at the time a moody teen.

No respect- a fast paced bassy rock track with a few digitised vocal effects flung in there. Going along with the theme of the album the lyrics really are pushed out through Gary's vocal to tell you how he feels. Another track that gets me full of emotions of anger at the world when they didn't understand me at the time.

Evilangelist- again with a very unique sounding extreme flavour, that does contain some great vocals and styling, sort of mid paced rock track with a simple feel to it but I failed to connect fully and make it fit my musical needs.

Shadow boxing- A simplistic rock track with mellow funky under tones, really brings the full angry mood to a nice chilled out vibe which was perhaps needed a little more within the album but you can't always get everything you want.

Unconditionally- A great rock love song . Sultry vocals again from Gary. A great few harmonises from the guys here that really just gives you an almost climatic ending from what was a very anger charged style of album. I always get to the end of this album and my feeling of rage are just washed away by this track.

Waiting for the punch line- this is a track hidden at the end of the album ( a secret track) funky with quirky flavour of adding in diabolical jokes but it does work well. For me it feel like there saying life's like a joke and they are waiting till someone tells them what the meaning is.

A very mixed album that perhaps for people that have never heard Extreme before would probably fail to get what the bands all about, more of an album for the die hard fans like myself. Sadly this was the last ever album Extreme did for 13 years and left me with a feeling of disappointment. But the band did go on to have solo careers but never quite made achieving what they had with Extreme.

Fear not though as after a long spell of randomly trying to connect with other bands since my beloved queen and extreme where no longer producing music we now have the joy of a new album
Saudades De Rock. Check out my other Extreme album reviews too.

Summary: an album that has its merits but not loved by all fans