Godsmack - IV
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Free Music Notes for IV
Free Music Review: Godsmack at their Best
Hit: 5 Stars
If you are a Godsmack fan this is another good one . What else can I say?Free Music Review: BEST
Hit: 5 Stars
What can I say? Only that this is best band on the planet!Free Music Review: It'll take some time to grow on you.
Hit: 4 Stars
I'm not a typical Godsmack fan nor do I listen to them religiously, but I heard "Speak" one day on the radio and haven't been able to get enough since. I am familiar with some of there previous work, but like I said, I don't know 'em by the book. So when I pcked up "IV", I was generally satisfied with what I heard. I really got into a couple songs, then other songs had me reaching for the skip button. But, I stuck it out and listened to the entire thing from beginning to end. Here's my run down:
1) Livin In Sin - 3/5 - Good track to start with, gets you in the mood for what lies ahead.
2) Speak - 5/5 - You know the song and why it's great. If you don't, get out from under your rock.
3) The Enemy - 4/5 - Solid song to follow up behind "Speak". Makes me think of fight scenes in movies, final confrontations and defeating your worst enemy. Awesome tune.
4) Shine Down - 4/5 - This is probably my third favorite song on the album behind "Speak" and "Temptation" (more on that later). Chorus is catchy, and it all flows well. Would be 5/5, but the first 30 seconds is blah.
5) Hollow - 4/5 - Awesome song and display of variable talent. Really good place for a slow paced song like this, a little diversion from the hard stuff. Relaxing, soothing.
6) No Rest for the Wicked - 1/5 - Starts off promising, but then spins into some sort of dimension I can't explain. Easily the most forgettable song here. Tad too long as well.
7) Bleeding Me - 3/5 - At first, I though it was Track 6 all over again. But then at around the 40 second mark, the song picks up and it does itself justice. Not everyone will like it, but you have to give it a chance.
8) Voodoo Too - 3/5 - Pretty much what you expect out of this group. It's no Voodoo, but it will doo.
9) Temptation - 5/5 - As I got finished listening to Voodoo Too, I found myself wondering, "What song left on here is going to challenge 'Speak'?" I got my answer when this song came on. You might be hearing this on the radio in the near future, it's too good to pass up.
10) Mama - 1/5 - One of those "help me find my way" songs. If that's your thing, more power to you. The song isn't terrible, it just doesn't add up. There's better stuff here to spend your time on.
11) One Rainy Day - 1/5 - I expected a solid ending for this album, and boy, did they rain on my parade. Way too slow and mellow for my taste. I didn't care for it, maybe you will.
Bonus) Safe and Sound (Best Buy) - 3/5 - Good song that has a weird spot in it. Whatever musical sound it may have been, it sounded like a loud, continuous belch there towards the end. Would have much rather had this as a regular track than No Rest for the Wicked.
Overall, this album has some good tracks on it and a few forgettable ones to go with it. First time listening through, you'll find something you like for sure, but the rest of the album will take some time to grow on you.
And on a side note, am I the only one that was said WTF? when seeing the FBI Piracy warning plastered around the the edge of the CD art? What the hell...
Free Music Review: A surprisingly new and improved Godsmack
Hit: 4 Stars
Following up 2003's "Faceless," which received a mixed critical response, Godsmack release their fourth full length disc. "IV" was advertised by the band as being a more "experimental" album. Some skeptical people think the world will see Jesus' second coming before Godsmack make an experimental album. But Godsmack have definitely proved their cynics wrong, because this album does sound quite a bit different than "Faceless," 2000's "Awake," and 1998's self-entitled debut. There are several melodic songs on here, so "IV" has a somewhat gentle, tuneful, and harmonic edge. Thus, this album might not have as many good, heavy riffs as before, but it is definitely easier to swallow than `Smack's previous discs. Plus, frontman Sully Erna gets to actually sing on several of these tracks, and his lyrics are (for the most part) solidified.
The album opens with two somewhat disappointing but tolerable songs, "Livin In Sin" and "Speak." The former song kind of goes no where, and "Speak," which is the single, has some good hooks, but it sounds a little too familiar. But then things start to look up. "The Enemy" is a dark, "Awake"-esque song, with catchy, hard-hitting riffs over a lurching rhythm.
Track four, "Shine Down," is where the melody first makes an appearance. This song does have a few guitar riffs, but Sully's singing voice (which is actually pretty good) prevents it from being very heavy. A wailing harmonica solo, which wouldn't be out of place on a country music or Led Zeppelin album, is also included here.
"Hollow" is a somewhat pretty song with non-threatening, acoustic guitar strums and crooning. It might be a b-side from Godsmack's 2004 unplugged EP, "The Other Side," except this song also includes some female backing vocals.
The next two songs, "No Rest For The Wicked" and "Bleeding Me," return the album to Godsmack's heavy, riff-centered roots, but "Voodoo Too" is again melodic. It's a catchy little song (which is a sequel to 1998's hit single, "Voodoo") with tribal drums and a tasty (albeit brief) guitar solo.
"Temptation" is maybe the best of the heavy songs. It falls into a deep, thrashy groove and is backed by strong, churning riffs.
Finally, "Mama" and "One Rainy Day" are the last two songs. "Mama" is sort of in the same vein as "Shine Down" (it has more of Sully's very decent singing), and "One Rainy Day" is a dreary, depressing (though somewhat meandering) ballad which features very docile instruments and vocals.
All told, "IV" is easily Godsmack's most mature, well balanced, well-written, consistent, and all around best release to date. It's good for old-school fans, because there is plenty of headbanging-worthy material here, but you should also definitely check it out if you aren't a fan of their first three discs. This is a new side of Godsmack, one which we haven't heard before, and one which is significantly grown up and improved. Isn't it amazing what a little melody can do for a band?
Free Music Review: 8 out of 10
Hit: 4 Stars
In my opinion, there are 2 types of rock bands. There are groups like Tool, Nine Inch Nails, and even Korn. These are the kinda groups that I expect to constantly experiment and with each album put out something they've never done before. Then there are artists like Foo Fighters, Rob Zombie and Godsmack. These groups have a formula that works and they just stick with it...you don't really expect a whole lot of change, just fresh sounds.
However, here on Godsmack's 4th official album, the group has decided to change things up...but only a little. There are 3 different ways I would choose to describe this album. 1...It sounds more like Godsmack's first album, because it's less of a metal album and more of a hard rock album. 2...Instead of being heavy all the way through with a tribal song at the end, this album has the 2 styles more balanced. 3...It reminds me a lot of Metallica's "Load" and "Reload" albums. I know a lot of metal-heads won't like that because God forbid a metal band ever experiment or change things up a bit, but I always like it when bands try different things. It keeps it fresh. The album begins with "Livin In Sin" which is kind of a weird song to open with, it sounds more like something that should be in the middle of the album. It's a pretty good song but it's not one of the more impressive tracks. Then there's the album's first single, "Speak", which is your typical aggressive Godsmack tune similar to past tunes like "Straight Out Of Line". Next is a song called "The Enemy" and it's one of my favorites. It's another heavy tune and sounds like a pumped up version of "Bad Religion." "Shine Down" has an intro and a solo with a harmonica which is kinda odd for Godsmack. However it goes well with the songs catchy guitar riff, and this is one of those songs that reminds me of something from Metallica's "Load." Then "Hollow" is a slow acoustic number and could pass for something from the band's "Other Side" EP. The album goes on with heavy crunchers like "No Rest For The Wicked" and "Temptation" (my favorite). Then songs like "Bleeding Me" and "Mama" kind of have more of that Metallica "Load" sound. "Voodoo Too" isn't bad, but it really didn't impress me as much as the other songs. Although it has new lyrics, it doesn't sound as much like a NEW song as much as it sounds like a remix of the original. The album closes with "One Rainy Day" and is another acoustic song that has a Led Zeppelin-esque guitar riff. Also, if you buy the CD at Best Buy you will get a hidden song called "Safe & Sound" and it's a pretty good song but nothing we haven't heard before.
If you're a big fan of Godsmack or hard rock in general, then I think you'll really enjoy this CD, just give it a couple listens first and let it soak in. But if you're just a metal-head looking for something to mosh around in your bedroom with, then stick to listening to past albums like "Awake" and "Faceless."