Godsmack - IV
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Free Music Notes for IV
Free Music Review: Something old, something new
Hit: 4 Stars
Such seems to be the mantra fans are left saying after hearing Godsmack's latest offering, IV. All the elements that made past efforts great are still here with a few new additions. While admittedly, IV isn't their best (that honor actually stays with Awake), it finds the band mining the depths for new ways to stay relevent. As far as I'm concerned they did a great job. Vocal experimentation, thanks to the acoustic EP probably, definitely helps Sully remain a great frontman. Plus a couple guitar solos, great drumming, discernable bass, and flat out amazing production never hurts either.
When IV first hit shelves I didn't feel any need to rush out and buy it. Partly because there'd been no build up for it. There wasn't a big push to get recognition, nothing. However, in came the great reviews. "Godsmack at their best." "The best album of Godsmack's career." Seeing those comments, of course it's gonna be hard to not say no. I'm still not terribly impressed though. I love the few variations and truly excellent ballads, but the heavier stuff, minus a few songs, is just more of the same.
Livin In Sin starts us off beautifully. Think Mistake (from Awake) and make it even better. The vocals, lyrics, instrumentation, everything is cohesive and just melds together perfectly. Speak, the lead off single, makes for a good single, much like Straight Out Of Line was for Faceless. The Enemy is the first sign of weakness. There's nothing new or different about it. Shine Down seems to be a more spiritual song. The opening riff is great and from there the track only gets better. Hollow is the first vulnerable moment we see of Godsmack. Complete with acoustic guitars and Lisa Guyer on backing vocals makes this a definite standout. No Rest For The Wicked and Bleeding Me, while undoubtedly good are, again, more of the same. Everyone knew the next track was coming. Voodoo Too was inevitable. Compared to the original it lacks, but alone it makes for a great listen. Temptation and Mama almost seem to be build-ups for the incredible finale, One Rainy Day. Godsmack have made some great songs but One Rainy Day could quite possibly go down as their opus. No lie.
My favorite songs are Livin In Sin, Speak, Shine Down, Hollow, and One Rainy Day. IV may not be Godsmack's best but it will surely go down as a cornerstone in their catalog. Few new ground is broke throughout the duration of this CD, but there is enough to keep their sound fresh and new. IV probably won't recruit any new fans but for us who are already fans it makes for a nice little nugget.
Free Music Review: Their best album to date...
Hit: 4 Stars
With IV, Godsmack has definitely matured in their song writing, lyrics, structure, and sound. I consider myself a fan of theirs, however with their last full length cd, Faceless, I was growing tired of their sound-which had started to become repetitive. IV has changed my opinion (with exception of the guitar solos). To prove this band is expanding their sound, simply listen to Shine Down or Mama. Some would argue they have become "soft", however there are plenty of signature "Godsmack heavy songs" on this cd to satisfy the heavy rock Godsmack fan.
Pros:
*More varied in song variety than any previous albums.
*Better sounding. The mixing and production is much better than the last album.
*Lyrically, one of Sully's best efforts; he has expanded his range (perhaps since he gave up drinking and smoking)
*As Sully has been saying in the press, the new album is less "metal" and more "heavy rock" with "bluesy" elements to it. I consider this a positive change and a sign of growth.
Cons:
-The hidden track at the end is way too good to have to fast forward through 5 minutes of dead air to get to! I wouldn't normally be annoyed with this as hidden tracks typically are throw aways anyway. But in Godsmack's case it is one of the best songs on the album but a pain to get to! Whoever thought hidden tracks was a "cute" idea should have bamboo choutes ran up his/her fingernails! It's a hassle to get to the song.
-Guitar Work: Rombola uses the same tired wah guitar solos using the blues riff on virtually every song on every GSmack album. I like Tony Rombola but his guitar chops have not seemed to grow with the rest of the band. Some solos sound like they were ripped off from previous Godsmack songs. He should take note of guys like Mark Tremonti (formerly of Creed) who took a few years off prior to forming Alter Bridge so that he could take lessons from guitar wizz, Troy Stetina. His chops were heads and tails improved on the Alter Bridge cd compared to his work with Creed. Tony should take note.
-Arrangement: A very weak opening track. Livin in Sin is probably the weakest song on the entire album. If anything, it should have been placed in the middle or toward the end of the album. Temptation would have been an excellent opening track.
Overall, I'm very very pleased as the band has made great progress. I'd give this 8.5 out of 10 stars.
Free Music Review: Quite Simply: Godsmack's Best.
Hit: 4 Stars
I'll admit right off the bat that I have never been a big fan of Godsmack. Sure, a few songs here and there were good (and their acoustic EP, "The Other Side," was fantastic) but overall, they just never appealed to me. Godsmack always came across as a one trick pony, especially when you consider their previous three albums all just rehashed and ripped off of each other. Enter "IV," Godsmack's fourth album (duh) and first in three years. By listening to this album, you can see that Godsmack did their homework, took their time, and put extra care into making an album that is diverse, energetic and appealing.
What this translates to is this: If you were a Godsmack fan before, you'll love this album just like the others. If you didn't care for them before, perhaps this may persuade you to change your mind. And, of course, if you listen to rock radio, prepare to have a few of these songs played to death. "IV" isn't a complete departure from the previous albums, but Sully and company are taking more risks this time. Songs like "Shine Down" and "Mama" have southern-rock appeal, while others like "One Rainy Day" and "Hollow" (my two favorites) show true growth not just with the band, but also with Sully. Sully's lyrics have definitely gotten better over time. Not saying he's a poet, but when you compare it to the "Get away, go away, keep away, get out" theme that he stuck to on the self-titled album, the lyrical content of this album is far more mature than before. There are a couple of bombs on the album, most noteably "Voodoo Too," which is corny beyond belief. Sorry, maybe if you liked the original (I seem to be the only one who didn't) maybe you'll dig this, but the chorus with Sully chanting "Voodoo Too" got a good chuckle out of yours truly. "The Enemy" is another step back in time, as it is virtually identical to "Bad Religion." But industrial strength rockers like "Speak" and "No Rest For The Wicked" more than make up for that.
What could I compare this album to? Well, it may sound bad, but it reminds me of what Metallica were doing in the "Load" era (which isn't a bad thing, mind you). Godsmack are doing a great job of pushing forward and trying new things, while bringing elements of their past along with them. There are sounds on "IV" never heard before on a Godsmack album, and that's quite an accomplishment in themselves. Is it an excellent album? Oh yes. Is it enough to persuade me to join the Navy? NO WAY!
Free Music Review: When will Godsmack ever suck?
Hit: 4 Stars
i got this CD almost a YEAR after it came out. why? because in 2006 i thought this band MUST have finally run its course! it inevitable, right?
after seeing the oklahoma u. football video for "Enemy" on youtube.com, i thought "great song, sully, but a whole cd's worth of good tunes?"
"speak" was on the radio in regular rotation. "great bass line, nice bridge, good vocals, but thats probably the one really good song on the cd", i pondered.
someone did a video for "hollow" on youtube.com. "beautiful song", i thought.
enough already! i broke down and purchased "IV"....its almost perfect.
some people claim Godsmack is doing the same old same old. other reviewers here say they branched off, experimented a little.
im not sure where i stand on this, but i am not worried about that.
the boys put out another solid cd. it has relentless, pounding bass and drums. the vocals go from sully's low end yells that engulf you to mid-range crooning that he also does well. this guy has pipes.
the guitars are good, as usual-- heavy, dark, distorted, yet timed well with appropriate breaks and changes. its pleasing.
i did not give it 5 stars only because i thought two songs were a little long, one of the faster songs should have started off the album, and "one rainy day" could have been a tad better-- possibly with the sound of thunder and the distant clamor of a city street, to accentuate the feeling of distance and isolation? (just my thoughts).
great cd!
as an aside-- on July 3, 2006, Godsmack played the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. Im ashamed to say that was but the FIRST time i had seen them live. Sully Erna was the heart and soul of the show. he looked like he had a blast performing, and really wanted the audience to enjoy themselves. i was impressed...but my favorite Godsmack song, "Greed" was not in the set list! i was very surprised and a little disappointed at that. but its a concert memory i will have for years!
Free Music Review: Godsmack at it again!
Hit: 4 Stars
*SMACK!!!* Okay, so that's not exactly how the album opens. The opening track is a little bit out of place, being a little too mild to start. But the album picks right back up and hits you with "Speak" and "The Enemy".
Track 4, "Shine Down", is a bit of a different sound for them, hard, heavy, yet slower with less yelling and more singing.
Track 5, "Hollow", may have been better toward the second half of the album. It's slower, accoustic sound with singing by both Sully and a female vocalist give it a different touch. But it should have been nearer the end of the album.
The next two tracks follow in the steps of "Shine Down", followed by "Voodoo Too". I felt "Voodoo Too" was a good addition, giving it a reminiscent feel to the album of their earlier days with a bit more maturity in the music. A good change of pace.
"Mama" is somewhat slower than the other tracks, but still has some good riffs.
"Temptation" comes right out and hits you in the face again, seemingly out of nowhere. The sudden burst of energy is a good pick-me-up at the end of the album, but again I agree with some others that the order of tracks was a bit off. It's still a good track, though.
"One Rainy Day" ends the album with a slow, depressing feeling. Raindrops begin and end the song, filled with a dark and dreary feeling in between. It was an obvious fit for the last track; begin with anger and energy, then finish with sadness and depression.
Overall, I felt this album was pretty good. I enjoy most, if not all, of the tracks. But the flow of the album is a bit off, hence the 4 stars rather than 5. Definitely some of the better music I've heard lately. Enough of the boy-band weaklings. Bring on some attitude!