| Full and Candid Review of The Amalgamut |
| I have been waiting years to listen to this cd, and just as long to write a review about it (what a life I lead, huh?). Agree or disagree with me; either way, email me with your comments. Buckle up, because here we go: You Walk Away: Not the strongest start to an album. The slowly rising sounds of "Hey Man, Nice Shot" and "Sand" worked much better as an intro.This is sudden, and not the stong, guitar-driven, amplifier busting surge of power; rather it's something of a whimper. The sound is something that would make me think of a toned-down "Captain Bligh". Poor start aside, the song gets better. The sound improves as the guitars and drumming comes into play. The only qualm I have with the rest of the song is the way Richard presents it. Throughout the first verses, it sounds as if his tounge is swollen. I like the echo-ee sounds used to change his voice though, adding creativity to the mix. The spoken parts are arranged nicely, and the lyrics, though short, are well-thought out. The bridge has a spooky, and space age sound to it and perhaps is the best part of the song. The words get a tad repetative, but overall, its a good track; not the best Filter can do, but still worth hearing. (Rating: 7/10) American Cliche: At first, this song didn't agree with me. Listening to it again, though, I found I liked the rawness of the chorus. Strong and powerful, Richard's voice proves just the tool to do the job. The lyrics leave much to be desired. While choruses are meant to be repeated, verses aren't. It seems like all that Richard did was take the first verse, switch a word or two ("First seat on the bus" versus "Last seat on the bus") and call it good. To me, knowing what a talent Richard is, this is a bit of a disappointment. Still, the song carries its share of power. A good second song. From here, it just keeps getting better. (7.5/10) Where Do We Go From Here: This being the first radio single, I was pleased when I heard it; Filter had returned. It has that characteristic Filter sound to it: the softer verses, the louder choruses. Compared to the last two songs, the lyrics are much more complex and thought-out. The guitar is magnificent, very loud, but meaningful at the same time and I like the solo bit in the bridge. If I have one bone to pick with this song, it would be the line "Stop dreaming 'bout that shiny gun." Shiny gun? Richard can think up a better word than "shiny". It just doesn't fit with the theme of the song. "Smoking" or a similar word would have worked better. Still, I really like this song. (9/10) Columind: Loud, unrelenting,...beautiful? Perhaps, this word does work for this song. Although it's probably one of the band's heaviest songs, along with "Dose," it manages to capture the feelings and emotions of the tragedy at Columbind. In a way, a song focusing on such a topic SHOULD be loud and pounding. The way the drums sagway into the chorus is perfectly done, leading to a sonic and perfectly presented string of lyrics. Speaking of lyrics, Richard here again does an excellent job of putting his thoughts into words. This song must be played at a high decible level to get the real feel for it. Another song I give a good score to. (9/10) The Missing: Marvelous and moving says it all. This is truly a Filter epic and a song I would kill (mean figurativly) to see live. The guitars provide a picturesque intro leading to the smooth and velvety lyrics of Mr. Patrick. Crying without weeping, Richard expounds his feelings on the 9/11 attacks with blunt and honest vocals. The jewel of the song, however, is in the chorus. Soaring, the chorus is simple and delivered in a style that would make most vocalists of our time look on in envy. Clearly, Richard's voice has matured and found a way to adapt to any singing environment. Here is proof of his abilities. I love the echoing in th chorus and the cathardic, trademark scream at the end does and always will tug at my soul and maky my eyes tear. He has captured the pain, anger and anguish of that fateful day perfectly, in true Filter style. This is a masterpiece that everyone should hear. (9.5/10) The Only Way (Is The Wrong Way): Just plain-old good. This song is dripping with that Filter sound that we have come to known from songs like "Take a Picture" and "Skinny": a softer side, portrayed with gusto. This song will take you head bobbing, but is far from being tossed into the 'teeny-bopper' category. It's lyrics a cross somewhat reminescent of "Miss Blue," this track is full of rich (no pun intended) lyrics and well arranged guitars. The only fault lies in the lead-in: "Did you think that..." It is repeated at the beginning of every line in the verses. However, they work well, keeping a uniformity throughout the song. As with "The Missing," Richard gets his message across without a since shreak. I love the way the line "You always push me down" is snuck into the background near the end. THe sudden end puts a lovely cap on a great song. A smooth, almost calm voice throughout the entire song, this song is sure to get quite a bit of airplay. (9.5/10) My Long Walk To Jail: Here, the f-word is used in an acceptable and meaningful way. Sung as an accesory to his anger, Richard voices his opinion without restarint. Describing a youth who phoned the band once he arrived in jail, Richard uses simple lyrics to demonstrate the torture convicts must go through on the way to their little 'hell'. The song is remimescent of Shortbus days, with simply, to-the-point lyrics. However, the song falls short, ending abruptly after a minute bridge following the second verse. Still powerful, the song if full of emotion and provides that powerful punch only the way Filter can. (8/10) So I Quit: Here, the f-word is NOT used in an artistic and meaningful manner. With the exception og the chorus, this song doesn't belong on the cd. I cannot see why it was even written in the first place. It louds and very bombastic, much like "Columbind", but doesn't carry near the message. If this song is why the cd got that 'Parental Advisory' sticker, it wasn't worth it. Richard screams alot, and in most cases, the screams add to the power and message of the track; here however, they detract, keeping the listener from even understanding what he's saying, while at the same time, sprinkling profanity along the way. It's somewhat disappointing to also note that all founr members helped contribute to the writing of the song. With all their talent and skill, I would think that one of them would break into the thought process and explain how the song doesn't have a point besides to scream gibberish and curse. COme on guys; you can do better. Poor example of what Filter is. (5/10) |
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