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ANThology

Alien Ant Farm - ANThology Audio CD

A fair review of the Alien Ant Farm "ANThology" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Alien Ant Farm reviews here, or go back to the Alien Ant Farm tabs.

Band: Alien Ant Farm
Title: ANThology
Rating:

Release Date: 2002-04-24
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Japanese 2: Japanese 3: Japanese 4: Japanese 5: Japanese 6: Japanese 7: Japanese 8: Japanese 9: Japanese 10: Japanese 11: Japanese 12: Japanese 13: Japanese 14: Japanese 15: Japanese 16: Japanese

Not a Greatest Hits album

Hence so it goes with this 'band' who've titled their album ANThology, in pun to their band name, which is more similar to the likes of the packaging of them black rapper albums would coin for their releases (that reminds me of a certain attitude defined by Chris Rock on his classic comedy BRING ON THE PAIN as well). Judging by its title, I thought that this is a retrospective album from one of those 'bands' that have arrived at present who are too young (or not that credible) to have a compilation as yet, whence it turns out I just found that they DO have a Greatest Hits album out already.

And hearken - a track in this album comes as something self-confessional (the song "Whisper" (even the song title seem to tell you something of the industry moguls' trade secrets)) that they are a bunch of manufactured recording 'artists' who are molded into the shape of what the market have these days for them to sell out in the music industry - and as it went , the song states "It's fine by me".
As it is for all of how crappy things have gone to - like an anti-thesis for what the genre of Rock music is supposed to be in all of what it stood for originally, as an anti-pretense and formality-filled crud, these so-called phoney poser 'bands' who've gained ground in the industry today turned out to be the predecessors for what have transpired at present on what the Rock music genre came to be, sadly.

They sounded learned in their skill while purveying the formula of how they sounded like, but if depicted by an actor it would be a certain case of bad acting regarding the means that these 'bands' express themselves, as the genre became commonly acceptable these days, and even more so its that it's just because that it had become fashionably trendy, and its all so pass. Hence goes what Frank Zappa have stated then, "Stupid is IN".
They carry on with that same buzz-guitar filled produced sound that are dime-a-double-dozen to be found around, mixing certain elements from a number of bands formulaically who've been notable from the not-so distant past by the likes of PANTERA, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, and SONIC YOUTH. The last bands that I ever really liked to listen to are GOO DOLLS along with them-post Korn bands by the likes of VERTICAL HORIZON (being not that too notable at all).

I've just gone through listening to this album after having played an 'anonymous' various artist compilation cd called DETOUR (Universal Records), which is half-consisting of the current "christian bands" that've come around these days, and its peculiar that the opener to this one seem to link on having some same lyrical relevance and similarity to the last track on the other said compilation album- an annoying track called "In The Middle" by an unknown group called BIG DOG, which speaks of being double minded about something, whence this ALIEN ANT FARM cd even went on with its second track that seems to level on that certain level as well, kinda like a song that's spoken in the perspective of the Creator.

I only gave the knack to check this cd out and took the chance on giving it a listen due to the reason that since these kids have contributed to the Spidey movie soundtrack with a song titled "Bug Eyes" --who's sequel soundtrack's the one I'm going to listen to afterwards writing this little prattle here at this point, which amtter-o'-factly is definitely going to be another wanna-be so-called rock band phonies' fest predictably.
And I see that the said sequel soundtrack also had a guest appearance of QUEEN's guitar wiz Brian May, who've committed some bad career move choices lately, and've currently appeared with a certain boy-band and on that PEPSI softdrink commercial cheering up among the audiences, wherein "We Will Rock You" is being blasphemed over by the likes of Britney Spears, when even its enough of a mistake he allowed that QUEEN track/anthem he wrote be trampled with.

What also got me to score this cd is the mere attitude that out of being a regular fan of related genres (where a lot of wanabe's have gained ground nowadays), whether it'd be comic books, films and Rock music - that sometimes its just that disposition of being a collector/completist that'd get you going for the some of them although they are not that authentic to the genre, a feeling that is similar for some of the priests and people in the vatican who would wonder time and time again about why they kept on with what they're doing in the part of the role that they occupy sometimes.

Peculiarly I never knew until I listened and get to hear it that they're the ones who did that cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" which's heard around quite well - and its on this cd. I used to be aware of such things before - but its just that I don't keep track of new bands and stuff these days anymore.

The psuedo-glam band DARKNESS came out of the hunger for a very good rock group to come around these days and tried to relive the glory days of Rock music's rebirth in the eighties by those bands who winded up being labeled as Glam-bands; but sad to say it never delivered as well. . .

The rating of 2 stars out of 5 goes for the album packaging credited to a certain P. R. Brown - who'd have the lyrics printed like strands of DNA.

Music-wise: it's a perfect specimen for such type of phony rock-music bands of the day.
Oh and on the last track - seeing by the player clock that it still ran past 6 minutes and going only indicates that there's a hidden-track as such. . . whoa bummer.

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For something worthwhile to listen to among those that've come around recently - rather try checking CHALK FARM's NotWithstanding and TRAIN's My Private Nation instead.

.

Great Band!
It is probably one of the best I've ever purchased. This album has been in my CD player for a couple of months now. They have songs that encompass all of your moods in one. It's good for guys and girls. Heavy enough for guys, meaningful enough for girls!
Everyone should buy this record, but let it be known that all of the ANThology albums contain the bonus track called Apples and Oranges. In fact its one of my favorite songs on the record!.

You can see a complete list of all Alien Ant Farm discography, or go back to the Alien Ant Farm tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.