Okay! Since this is my very first review, I'll write a bit about my format before I begin. First, I'll write a brief introduction, and then I'll write a bit about each individual track of the album, commenting on what kind of sound it has, good or bad, etc; and following that, I'll make my "final statement" giving my general opinion on the album. Please, as you read, keep in mind that everything I write is self-opinion based, and the only reason I'm even posting my reviews are to give the reader a good idea of how the album sounds, and what the individual songs seem to be about. Remember, some things I'll like, and some I won't, so if your whole bag is checking out reviews on albums, disagreeing with the opinions posted, and sending nasty e-mail insulting my taste in music, fuck you. People like that don't belong in a world like this, but are exactly what's wrong with it. Sorry I had to vent! Okay now, all in favor of Bud shutting up say aye... AYE! Okay that's enough from me then. Onward to the review!!! I hope you enjoy it immensely, and keep on coming back for more!!!
When I went to buy this album, I had only heard one song by this band. I saw it one night on MTV, and prob'ly the main reason I didn't change the channel on it was because it had Nick Hexum (lead vocalist to 311) as guest vocals. If you haven't heard it before, you prob'ly still have no idea what song I'm talking about, and if you have heard of a song with Nick Hexum doing vocals with The Urge, you know the song, Jump Right In. So anyways, I got the album basically because of that song. Normally whenever I do that, I end up getting a shitty album with exactly what I went to get... one good song. This album, however, was quite different.
"Master of Styles" is an album with a sound much like the title. Many different styles within it, ranging from a reggae-influenced beat, all the way to hard rock. Each song is quite unique, and it's easy to distinguish them from each other. This automatically makes it decent! I don't know about you, but I can't stand those albums where every song sounds almost identical. I won't name names, but whichever bands I'm talking about, you know who you are. The sad thing is, maybe they don't. Oh well, enough chit-chat, let's get down to the individual song reviews...
Track 1 - If I Were You
The first song on this album gives a relatively good example of the diverse sound implemented on this album. It begins with a 8-bar rock groove, and then tones down to a half reggae, half ska-ish sound. The horns come in, reassuring the listener that there actually are horns in this band. (after you read the rest of this album review, you'll understand why I say that.) The verse music is in that reggae feel, and the chorus a powerful dark rock sound. The lyrics complement the sound well. This song seems to be about a man who meets a friend from long ago "for the first time" again. My first impression of the album from this song: "Wow... they've got a damn good bass player!"
Track 2 - Straight To Hell
Hmm. A strange hip-hop/funk sounding groove with slightly rapped lyrics. Not bad, if I do say so. Ooh, but then the chorus comes in! A very loud and obnoxious sounding (yet powerful) heavy guitar sound comes in. This part wouldn't be so bad if the lyrics weren't being screamed in a rather irritating fashion. No offense, Steve Ewing, you can sing just fine, but you can't scream worth shit! Oh, then it drops into a short, neat-o drum break, with a little muted trumpet noise (who's playing it? there's no credit for a trumpet player anywhere in the album booklet). Then another verse. The whole song's pretty much like that. It's an extremely confusing song, musically and lyrically speaking. I'm not quite sure who exactly they're sending to hell, but it better not be me. In the middle of the song, the music fades down, and they do a crescendo, slightly reminiscent of Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name". I'm not a big fan of this song, but I wouldn't pass it up, and I'm sure it's way better live.
Track 3 - Jump Right In
Ah, yes. A very nice song, that I'm SO glad ther don't overplay on MTV or the radio here. It's very reggae-ish style, and during the chorus, there's an awesome and very warm-sounding horn part to complement Nick Hexum & Steve Ewing's (also)warm-sounding lyrics. Speaking of which, I'm a huge 311 fan, but I still can't pick out Nick's voice in there anywhere. Oh well, that just means it blends in well! The beginning guitar solo starts the track out nicely, then goes into a basic reggae progression, with offbeat rhythms. The neatest sounding part of the song is in the middle where the guitar backs off, then there's a bass solo (I think) and then a faster guitar part, and the pre-chorus repeats ("Even though she was no stranger...") which incorporates a classic "impacted accent" unison. Damn, I thought that would be easier to describe. Anyways, if you haven't heard this song yet, you should, it's excellent.
Track 4 - S.L.O.B.
I'm not even going to try and figure out what this title stands for, if anything at all. Right away, this song comes off as a loud, wanna-be punk song. Personally I can't stand it, and I sometimes program it out on my CD player. The lyrics appear to be about both a physical fight with someone else and the lead singer, and also a mental battle between a man and his addiction to crystal meth. I agree with the overall message of the song, and I love the lyrics, but the music behind it turns my attention away. Sadly, the music does complement the lyrics very well, but I still don't like it. Punk Rock fans might like this track.
Track 5 - Played Out
Starts out with yet another loud, powerful intro, and a Voodoo Glow Skulls type horn line, but quickly digresses into a reggae-rock groove. This is a song about how sometimes good people get played out and financially raped, and they get theirs in the end, but the fact that they pissed those people off is still good enough to rub in their faces and make them feel guilty about it. At least I'm pretty sure. If I'm wrong, sue me, that's just how I interpreted it. The horns in this song (whoa,there's horns?) give it a much more angry feel to it, and add that little bit of "oomph" it needed to make this an incredibly meaningful song. Coolest line in this song: "Who gave you the right to put your hands in my pants? Turn the pockets inside out... I hope you choke on it!"
Track 6 - Closer
Nope this isn't a Nine Inch Nails song! It's an extremely happy song from beginning to end. It's all about a person who's "significant other" (she... hey it was inferred!) makes him feel, well, better; and how he thinks of the future as an unwritten book, but he obviously looks optimistic at it. This song has "happy" oozing out of every orifice in the album. You can tell from the little "doo-doot, doo-doot" vocals in the beginning, to the happy horns (I think, but if so, there's just a couple happy backup trombone chords) and pianos in the middle. But then near the end, the happiness (sorta) fades out into a mysterious ending, either implying that the girl ended up leaving him, or he simply chose to look at both sides of the equation, thinking that she might be too good for him, or something. But then again, maybe I'm just crazy in thinking that.
Track 7 - Gene Machine
First impression of this song: "Oh no, I thought this was The Urge, not Slayer!!!" But no, it's still them. This song is a good example of why I don't think bands should put covers on their albums. At least I think this is a cover, because the lyrics aren't printed, and there's credits for people who aren't in the band. I would hate this song if it weren't for the part in the middle where it turns into a reggae groove with a rad horn part. But then it's all over. All in all, I can say "At least the second half was good."
Track 8 - My Apology
Man, where do I begin? If I could turn this song into a woman and marry it, I would! I'd ram it 50 times, shove it in a trashcan and rollit down a hill, it's that good! Right away, out comes an incredible vibraphone/marimba line, and a truly dark and evil horn part. This sounds like a rock n' roll marching band song from Jamaica! The chorus is like a heavy rock sound, however, and the style changes are tight as well. It's a great song, and I'd frame it if I could. There's really not much more I can say about it, so that's that!
Track 9 - Divide And Conquer
Whew, it's a nice beat, but the lyrics are way different than every other song on the album. There's a whole lot of Moses, lord, and god's in this song, and that kinda turns me off to it. But I listen to this one for the music! It's got the same feel as some of the other songs on the album, but it's still got that unique style found only in this track. There's an awesome horn part as well.
Track 10 - Identity Crisis
It's actually a very funny song, with an elevator music style beat. Its about how the lead singe, Steve Ewing is all pissed off about how sometimes people don't see people (namely him) as individuals... While at the same time, he's describing his personality, physical attributes, and "vital statistics" as well. The verse, as I noted before, has this sort of laid-back elevator music type feel to it, but then the chorus sounds like really pissed off hard rock. Loud guitar and what-not, adding to the overall drama of the song itself. I like this song a lot, but the 2nd verse makes no sense.
Track 11 - Going Down
Ouch! Feedback! Then a neat-o heavy rock guitar lick comes in. Oh, and then a mysterious sounding groove comes in. Oh, and then the horns! The horns! More mysterious! Then the chorus, the same guitar part as in the beginning. Then it smoothes out again with them horns blasting. The bass on this song is really low at times, but it adds s once again to that mystery. You can tell this song's about alcoholism ("I was slowly drinking down my steady decline") and such. It's a really good song, with one of the best grooves on the album. The bridge really illustrates the lyrics well, then the music drops out into that guitar solo again, and the song choruses out, where obviously the guy has gone... well, down!
Track 12 - Prayer For Rain
Ding ding! Start the last track. Into a drum groove, then the harmonious vibraphone sound comes in, fading into a smooth groove. But then at the chorus it changes up styles to a loud guitar and yelling. But of course, it changes back for the chorus. I'm not absolutely positive what this song is about, but I think it has something to do with getting to sleep, but not being able to. He get up and watches T.V. and it's really late. He prays for rain as a sort of metaphor to have something that keeps back his insomnia. He wants to make sure he isn't going crazy. It appears that by the end of the track he finally does get to sleep, as all the separate instruments slowly decrescendo into nothingness.
Overall Analysis - Master Of Styles
Well there you have it! A very nice sounding album of 12 tracks. I personally like only 11 of them, as I am not a big fan of "Straight to hell" at all. But overall, it is a very good album, and I definitely would recommend buying it. If you're still skeptical as to my overall opinion is going to match yours, then if they have it, get it at your local music trader, so at least you won't pay too much for an album you might not like. That's what I did, but not because I wasn't sure it would be good, but because I'm a cheap ass. Oh well, I'll be back soon with a new review, which I'm pretty sure will be of The Smashing Pumpkins' new album, Adore. See ya then!
