Danzig - The Lost Tracks Of Danzig (2CD)
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Free Music Notes for The Lost Tracks Of Danzig (2CD)
Free Music Review: dont punish your ears
Hit: 3 Stars
if you own this album you probably own alot of other danzig material as well as albums from his previous bands the misfits and samhain. i own almost everything the man has came out with but im starting to question why i keep buying his records. i think he is a musical genius but i think he is also losing his edge as this album certainly proves that. first of all, not a single track on this two disc compilation jumped out and grabbed me and really made me go WOW! they are all of mediocre quality. also, glenn states that these songs were recorded throughout his career and set aside because they didnt fit the theme of the album...well i find that hard to believe because the sound quality is the same on every song and we all know how the sound quality on glenns albums has changed over the years. also, the cd case is the shape of a comic book and the inside booklet IS a comic book pretty much or its made to look like one. sadly, the best part of this package to me was the cool photos inside the booklet. final decision: let the buyer beware and only purchase this if you are a die-hard danzig fan.Free Music Review: F@#K YEAH
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been waiting for this release for quite some time and it was well worth the wait (and price). You can definitely hear the misfits/samhain side of Danzig throughout the entire album. Danzig if you read this please create some new tracks for your fans, you will not disappoint us. Anyways it is a great album, pick it up! Free Music Review: The Long Awaited Lost Tracks Does Not Dissapoint
Hit: 5 Stars
It was around 1998, I want to say, when the idea of a Danzig boxed set was floated around by Glenn himself that would contain a bunch of unreleased material spanning his solo career up to that point. It was around the same time that former Danzig/Samhain bassist Eerie Von had his own hot-line and would play unreleased Danzig songs in the background much to the delight of fans. Some really promising stuff was present on those hot-line recordings (specifically the ballad "Cold, Cold Rain") and ever since then fans have been dying to get a hold of this material.
Here we are, nearly 10 years later, and the Lost Tracks of Danzig has finally been released. It took a lot of legal action, some label shopping, numerous delays, and several trips to the recording studio to get it here but the wait has paid off. It would be hard to review this as an album, because it's not, it's a collection of songs much like a greatest hits album, so the only way to really review this is to go song by song. I'll rate each song on a numerical scale ranging from 1 to 5. Each rating will carry a specific meaning outlined below:
5 = Exceptional Danzig, one of the best songs he's ever done.
4 = Essential, this song should have been on the album it was recorded for and is a must have for Danzig fans.
3 = Good, careful consideration should have been made as to whether or not this should have been included on the album it was recorded for.
2 = Filler, not bad, but one can see why it was left off initially.
1 = there's a reason why this was never released up until now.
Now, onto the songs which are presented on the album in chronological order, though with some debate:
Pain is Like an Animal (4 stars) - Sometimes referred to as "Pain is Such a Loving Thing" (which is the chorus). This was originally recorded as part of the last Samhain sessions (the same ones which spawned "Twist of Cain," "Possession," etc) and was recorded multiple times. Glenn claims this is the version from the first Danzig record, though the vocals place it more around the time of Danzig III. Nevertheless, it's a great rockin' tune that has a good drive to it. The production isn't perfect, but this is an old recording. At any rate, it would have probably made both Danzig and Danzig III better records had it been included the first time around. A great song to get started with.
When Death Had No Name '88 (2.5 stars) - Another song that was recorded for several different albums, here it is present in two forms. The original 1988 version and the one previously released on the Dirty Black Summer Single. It's a very slow tempo song that picks up towards the end. Most people are probably already familiar with this tune. It's pretty good, but the version from '92 is a little better which is why I gave it a 2.5 rating.
Angel of the Seventh Dawn (3 stars) - A song that takes its name from the old Danzig Fan Club. It's a nice blues-based rock song from the Danzig II sessions and definitely worthy of being on an album. Unfortunately for this song, it was recorded for Danzig II, arguably the best album Danzig has ever made, and there just wasn't any room for it. Especially considering a more deserving song was left off as it is. This one features some imaginative lyrics about a guardian angel and has really good pacing. A nice solo from John Christ caps it off before a powerful outro where Glenn's vocals shine.
You Should Be Dying (2 stars) - It starts off sounding like a Black Sabbath riff before going into a faster tempo complete with trademarked Danzig guitar squalls. The vocals are not very good, and I question if these were recorded in '90 or more recently. Not to say Glenn's voice is poor at this stage of his career, but the mix just isn't strong. The chorus is repetitive, and ultimately the song just isn't that interesting, though it will get stuck in your head from time to time.
Cold, Cold Rain (5 stars) - Probably the most eagerly anticipated song on this release. This is another song from the Danzig II sessions. It's basically a 50's era ballad. What sets it apart from other songs from this era of Danzig are the vocals which really shine. Apart from perhaps "You and Me" from the Less Than Zero soundtrack, this is the best vocal performance from Glenn at this point of his career. The song starts off quiet and has nice buildup throughout culminating in a patented Danzig wailing outro. Fans shouldn't be dissappointed with this one!
Buick McKane (3 stars) - This is a TRex cover from the Danzig III sessions. It was supposed to be released as a B-side but never was for some reason. It has a great main riff and Glenn brings out a little bit of the rock-a-billy voice for this one. Just a solid rocker. If I had one complaint about it it's that it drags on at the end and it's easy to lose interest.
When Death Had No Name '92 (3 stars) - Very similar to the other version, but with better vocals and stronger playing all around. Most have probably heard this one as it was previously released as a B-side for "Dirty Black Summer." Needless to say, it's a solid Danzig tune and worthy of re-release.
Satan's Crucifiction (4 stars) - It's 1994, and the band is coming off it's first commercial hit with "Mother '93" and it's time to record what would become Danzig 4p. Some executives at American Recordings see this as the time to really catapult the band into the spotlight, and they don't want to mess it up, so the band is asked not to make the new record "satanic." From this we get "Satan's Crucifiction," a song recorded just to mess with the execs over at American Recordings and it was never meant to get released, and yet, it's pretty awesome. It definitely could have taken the place of a song like "Sadistikal" on Danzig 4p but they chose not to do anything with it. It's very slow, but very heavy, and the lyrics are pure metal cheese but the song is a lot of fun. I'll admit, I had low expectations going in but I came away impressed.
Mandrake's Cry (3 stars) - This song is also from Danzig 4p. It's simple, and pretty straightforward but something about it just works. The mix could have been better on the vocals, but they get the job done. It's a song about a mandrake who lures people into death with his/her lullaby. An interesting concept and not something I'd expect from Danzig, perhaps that's why it was never released until now?
White Devil Rise (1 star) - I'll let you read the liner notes or one of the many recent interviews where the story behind this song is revealed. It is probably the most interesting thing about the song, and while it's intentions are fine the song still sounds like an anthem for the KKK. That I don't care about so much as the song just sounds unfinished and the chorus is obnoxious (he just screams "White! Devil! Rise!"). Definitely a song I could do without and one I skip over frequently.
Come to Silver (Acoustic) (4 stars) - An acoustic version of a song that appeared on Danzig 5: Blackacidevil. The album version featured some excellent guitar work from Jerry Cantrell. I'm told he played on this version as well, though it hardly matters since the strumming is pretty simple. Sadly, the vocals for this version were either never recorded or too deteriorated to use here so Glenn had to re-do them. The new vocals sound fine, it's more of a talking song than a sing-a-long like "I'm the One," but just to better place it in the time period it was recorded I would have liked to have had the original vocal track here. As an acoustic song, one can really hear how Glenn envisioned this to sound if it had been recorded by Johnny Cash (which is whom the song was written for) and it's a great song, both here and on Danzig 5. I still prefer the version on Danzig 5, but this is a great song in it's own right.
Deep (2/3 stars) - I gave this song two ratings, and I'll explain why. Compared to most Danzig songs, this is more of a 2 star rating as it's not really an exceptional recording. However, given that this was recorded with the other songs from Danzig 5, it would have made Blackacidevil a better record had it been included. A remix would later appear on the Blackacidevil re-issue though. This version was orignally released on the X-Files soundtrack "Songs in the Key of X." The vocals are clean with industrial elements in the background. It gets loud for the chorus but the song never really goes anywhere. It pretty much is the definition of a filler track.
Warlok (4 stars) - I could have given this one two ratings as well, as it is pretty close to a 5 star rating given that it is from the Blackacidevil recording sessions, but I went with a 4 across the board. This one surprised me and will probably surprise most when they hear it. It's pretty simple but just has a nice melody throughout and the vocals are clean and soft. It's a great closing track for the first disc. I imagine it didn't make it onto Blackacidevil originally because it sounds too much like a closing track and Blackacidevil already has a great closing track in "Ashes."
Lick the Blood off My Hands (3 stars) - The first track from disc 2, and the first from Danzig 6. It's a slow, deliberate song but with an evil blues touch. To me, this is what "Hint of Her Blood" from Danzig 5 should have sounded like. A nice way to kick off disc 2.
Crawl Across Your Killing Floor (5 stars) - Awesome song! I don't know why it never made it onto Danzig 6, but this is a great song. It's long by Danzig standards, nearly 7 minutes, but it doesn't feel long. The guitar work is also impressive. Even though session guitarist Jeff Chambers played on Danzig 6, I am told the guitars for this were recorded later by Todd Youth who replaced Chambers for the tour. The song sounds like a classic rock song with no effects on the vocals or in the background. If the guitar had just a little more "twang" to it, it wouldn't be hard to convince someone this was from Danzig II. Again, I don't know how this didn't make it onto Danzig 6.
I Know Your Lie (3 stars) - Sounds like a cross between "Five Finger Crawl" and "Unspeakable." I'm guessing the song was scrapped for those reasons. This is a solid song, but it sounds unfinished. With a little more time it probably could have been more, but here it serves as a nice complement to the rest of the Danzig 6 recordings which are all very good.
Caught in My Eye (4 stars) - A Germs cover done well. This was originally intended to be a b-side but by 1999 singles weren't all too common for musicians other than pop stars. This one takes the old punk attitude of the original, and just adds a little Danzig to it. It has a creepy vibe as Danzig sings with a whisper track backing the vocals (pretty common for the band during this album). The chorus is just as catchy here as it was for the Germs. Short and sweet and a fun song to listen to while driving.
Cat People (4 stars) - Disc 2 continues to impress with this David Bowie cover. It starts off real slow with vocals that sound like the verse to "The Coldest Sun" off of Danzig 7, before exploding into a faster verse with some crunching guitar riffs. The climax of the song is what sets it apart from the lesser songs on this collection. This is what "Wicked Pussycat" should have been scrapped for.
Bound By Blood (5 stars) - I did not see this one coming. During the recording process of Danzig 7 Glenn lamented how hard it was going to be for him to leave this one off the final record and I can see why. Another longer song, this one starts off slow with some, dare I say sweet, lyrics. They really caught me off guard as just by reading the title I assumed it was going to be some gory bondage song (which makes sense given this is Danzig we're talking about) but the title goes the other way, being a song about family ties. It almost sounds like a song one would write for their child. As far as I know, Glenn has no children so I don't know who this was written for (if anyone) but it is a standout track amongst all of his work just for the lyrics alone ("and if you find yourself cold/ just take your warmth from my words/ i'm always with you/ we're bound by blood"). And to add to it, the guitar work by Todd Youth is excellent. I wonder how dissapointed he was up until now that his two best songs with Danzig had never been released ("Crawl Across Your Killing Floor" being the other)?
Who Claims the Soulless? (3 stars) - It would be easy for this song to fail given what it follows, but it's a solid song. I can think of songs worse than this one that eventually made it onto Danzig 7. It doesn't really sound like many Danzig songs, and yet at the same time almost sounds typical, which is hard to describe. The verse is nice, and the chorus is catchy. I can't think of anything else to say about it, though.
Malefical (2 stars) - A slow, brooding, kind of song. The lyrics are campy, and there isn't really any hook present.
Soul Eater (3 stars) - This is a real hard one to rate. On one hand, the guitar tone is downright disgusting which is the case of many songs on Circle of Snakes (though this is credited as being from Danzig 7 I hear, but I have my doubts), the vocals are plain but with a whisper track that is turned up way too high in the mix giving them a hoarse quality, and the lyrics are horrible ("i am the blackest of the black, attack!"). However, the riff is undeniably groovy and this one can really get stuck in your head. It would be a good live song, for sure. If it was cleaned up it could be pretty awesome, here it's a seriously flawed song that just happens to be extremely catchy. Likely a song most will either love or hate.
Dying Seraph (4 stars) - The last great song on the collection, "Dying Seraph" is a slow, sorrowful song with some jazz qualities. It's easy to overlook the first time through because it's never in your face, but after a couple listens one will really come to appreciate just how good it is. It has some nice metaphors and it shines with it's uniqueness. It would have been the perfect song to close out the album, but since this collection is just that, a collection, it's placed here instead of at the end.
Lady Luciferi (2 stars) - I'll start off by saying I hate the vocals on this one. They're very deep, and very slow, and they just make me scratch my head as to why Glenn would choose to sing this song this way. Aside from that the guitar tone is awful and the rest of the song is kind of "typical Danzig." It saves itself from a 1 rating by being moderately catchy.
Underbelly of the Beast ( 2.5 stars) - This is a remix of the song "Belly of the Beast" from Danzig 6. It was originally released on the soundtrack to The Crow: Salvation. The original song is better and one I would give a 3 star rating. Still, the remix doesn't ruin it (it really doesn't change it all that much) and it's not bad, though not entirely necessary.
Unspeakable (Shango Mix) (1 star) - A real dud to end the collection on. This originally appeared as background music for the adult film Grub Girl based on a comic book character put out by Glenn's company Verotik. Basically, everything has been stripped from the song except a few guitar notes here and there and replaced with a synth drum beat (remember, this was for a porn movie). It's not even worth listening to, really, and a head-scratcher as to why it was even released to begin with. Glenn has been quoted as saying there are more unreleased songs that won't ever be released. If none of them could bump this one off of here, then I can see why they would never be released.
So that concludes my rather lengthy review. I'm sure if I added up all of the scores I assigned to each song the overall rating would be somewhere between a 3.5 and 4.5. However, I'm giving this overall collection a 5 star rating because it contains too much essential material for the Danzig fan. This is a collection aimed at the die hard fan and anyone claiming to be such would be foolish not to scoop this up right away. And this is also good enough to appeal to more casual fans of Glenn's work. What really made this that good was the surprising amount of quality material on disc 2. I'm a fan who likes all of Glenn's work be it with the Misfits, Samhain, early Danzig, and modern Danzig. It is no secret though that most fans prefer the earlier works (Danzig through Danzig 4p) and expectations of disc 2 were set pretty low since that contains material from Danzig 6 and on to the present. However, some truly great songs were left off of those records (and Danzig 5, as well) that I think fans of Glenn's earlier works will come to enjoy as well. And to top it all off, the packaging for this is top notch which is also something I didn't expect given how poor the packaging for the Samhain Box Set was. This could very well be the last great release from Glenn Danzig, so be sure not to miss it!
Free Music Review: No one loves Glenn more than me...but.....
Hit: 3 Stars
I feel Glenn has lost his passion for music. Just listen to the track "I know your lie". This song sounds like it was written and recorded in 10 minutes. I also think he's fibbing by saying these tracks were written years ago. It really sounds like these tracks were written very recently. I know Glenn needs money to finance his movie venture. But to swindle his fans for cash is disappointing. The Cds are worth purchasing simply because it's him, and no one, I repeat, no one, tears up a stage like Danzig. Don't get me wrong, there are some nice cuts here, but the effort is definitely lacking. Whatever, I still love this Jersey boy until the very end!