antiReviews:
Inhale 420: The Stoner Rock Compilation
Review by Scott
Vile
Inhale
420: The Stoner Rock Compilation
Label: Spitfire
Records
Tracks: Crowbar - Dream Weaver
Natas - Alohawaii
Supafuzz - Mr. Policeman
Sixty Watt Shaman - Southern
Gentleman
Murder 1 - Whole Lotta Rosie
Gunfighter - Anti-Hero
Mammoth Volume - Seagull
Herbert - Devil's Garden
Bakerton Group - Mainstream
Sunride - Straightliner
Terra Firma - High Horses
Mystick Krewe of Clearlite
- Railhead
Rotors To Rust - Canaan
This CD is really disappointing. Basically
what Spitfire did is toss together a few bands from their label and a bunch
of unknown bands, and made a compilation CD. In order to generate more
buzz toward the disc, they called it "Stoner Rock." But really they could
have called it anything they want, because virtually no song on this disc
is even drug related. I decided to do a track by track, since this CD features
13 different bands all wanting exposure.
Note: Ratings are out of 10
Inhale 420 - The Stoner Rock Compilation CD Look: 6
The cover looks like a pot leaf that's
been all distorted. I think they went for a blown-glass effect like a bong,
but I'm not sure. A more traditional pot leaf would have been more effective.
The booket's in full color and shows pictures for each band.
Compilation Rating: 3.5
As a "stoner rock" compilation, this really
fails. I only remember listening to one "stoner rock" compilation before
this, but it was from High Times and was really well done. Those songs
were about weed, and had the Black Crowes as the opener, these songs aren't
and has Crowbar singing "Dream Weaver" as an opener.
Crowbar - Dream Weaver Band Look: 3
Of all the bands on this CD, Crowbar is
the one that will be most recognized. They look like a bunch of fat redneck
skin heads, but don't tell them I said that because they could easily beat
my ass.
Song Review: 4.5
They do a super heavy version of the Gary
Wright "classic" (I used quotations because I've always hated the song)
80's love song "Dream Weaver." However, the song just seems to be covered
out of novelty, as in they all were hanging out thinking of a cheesy song
to remake ala Limp Bizkit (Faith) / Marilyn Manson (Sweet Dreams), and
settled on "Dream Weaver." Plus, this is a pretty crappy way to start out
a "Stoner Rock" CD, since "Dream Weaver" is not drug related and this version
is far too intense for someone who's high. When you're stoned, you want
Pink Floyd, not this heavy, almost violent junk.
Natas - Alohawaii Band Look: 2
You can hardly tell what this band looks
like from the booklet, they sent in this incredibly blurry live shot that
has a bunch of writing
surrounding it. They look very unprofessional.
Song Review: 6.5
The song is mostly instrumental, and fits
in with the "stoner rock" theme. The vocalist, who plays only a minor role
in the song, sounds a lot like Ozzy Osbourne, and you can tell that they
are influenced by early Black Sabbath.
Supafuzz - Mr. Policeman Band Look: 6.5
I assume the guy in the middle is the
frontman, who has his hair standing straight up. He just comes off as a
copy cat to that guy in
Static-X. The 3 members are dressed in
black, some tattoos. They look pretty rock n' roll.
Song Review: 7.5
Fits the stoner rock theme, a song about
being hassled by the police. Crunchy guitars and good vocals, it's one
of the only strong
songs on the CD. Catchy.
Sixty Watt Shaman - Southern Gentleman Band Look: 5
None of them would stand out in a crowd,
doesn't impress or look stupid. Just average.
Song Review: 6.5
This song is demo-quality, it seems to
be in mono (not stereo sound). It's fast tempo, and has a cool riff during
the middle of the song. All in all, it's enjoyable, but not fantastic.
Murder 1 - Whole Lotta Rosie Band Look: -1
I don't know what the f*** they were thinking,
they're dressed like the Fantastic 4 comic book characters and look completely
retarded. If you're not familiar with the Fantastic Four, one of them is
always on fire, one is a chick who can make herself invisible, there's
a guy who looks like he's made of stoned, and a guy who can stretch his
limbs like a rubberband. Anyway, one guy has red face paint representing
fire but it looks like a bad rash, the rock guy is in a badly made skin
suit, and one guy is in a blond wig, and looks a little too comfortable
in it.
Song Review: 7
A cover of "Whole Lotta Rosie" by AC/DC.
It's a classic rock song and they do a faithful cover. I'd like it a lot
more if they didn't look like such morons on the band pic.
Gunfighter - Anti-Hero Band Look: 9
They're dressed in suits, and have their
hair cut short. They look cool.
Song Review: 8
Starts out really mellow, and suddenly
becomes very hard, with extremely distorted guitars and insane drums. They
sound like they would have been pretty popular in the mid-90's, the lead
singer has a good "alternative" voice.
Mammoth Volume - Seagull Band Look: 6
Not much to comment on. Nice promo photo.
Song Review: 6
The song doesn't work on me, but that
might be due to the fact that it's not really my style. The guitar sounds
pretty classic rock, but there's nothing in the song to hook me.
Herbert - Devil's Garden Band Look: 9
They look modern, young, and spent time
on their image.
Song Review: 7
Catchy, and although I never paid attention
to the lyrics, the title suggests that it might well be related to pot.
Good vocals, the guy
sounds familiar but can't pick out who
he sounds like.
Bakerton Group - Mainstream Band Look: 2
It's a crappy pic of them in the woods,
with the guy on the left holding a beer bottle. Obviously not even a promo
pic.
Song Review: 9
An awesome instrumental track. Work on
your image guys, you have talent!
Sunride - Straightliner Band Look: 7
The promo picture has live shots spliced
together they look cool.
Song Review: 9
Very cool riffs, a high tempo, energenic
song. Good vocalist and guitarwork. Sounds a little rough like it was recorded
on a light budget, hopefully the band gets some exposure.
Terra Firma - High Horses Band Look: 4
The first time I looked at the pic I thought
the band was one guy. But actually the other band members are just crammed
so far in the distance that it looks like they don't matter. Maybe the
guy in the foreground has a massive ego, that's what it looks like from
the photo.
Song Review: 4
The song is not recorded very well, must
be a tight budget in a bad studio? The song doesn't stick out at all, it's
not bad but is easily forgetable.
Mystick Krewe of Clearlite - Railhead Band Look: 5
Decent enough pic, but some members are
making goofy faces. Makes me not want to take them seriously.
Song Review: 7.5
Another instrumental, and this one is
pretty cool too. Good guitarwork that isn't flashy, and has a sort of 70's-funk
sounding organ.
Rotors to Rust - Canaan Band Look: 5
Pretty decent promo pic, but the guy in
the right looks trapped in the '80s when the music is trying to sound 90s...
Song Review: 6
I wouldn't go out of my way to listen
to the song. I guess it's all right, but if their promo song sounds like
filler, what does the rest of their music sound like?
Posted by RobotRocker:
Scott Vile you are dumb!
First off the whole idea of a compilation is to give some recognition to some so called "no-name" bands.
Second of all, Stoner Rock is not music for stoners. It is a musical movement "that is a throw back to the good ol' days" started in the early 90's with Kyuss and is continued with bands like Electric Wizard and Orange Goblin.
The Bottom Line
-DO SOME RESEARCH NEXT TIME!
Posted by The Man:
First off... to Scott Vile.
Just cause the genre is called Stoner Rock, doesn't mean all the bands make songs about weed and drugs. Kyuss, Fu Manchu started Stoner Rock, and they don't have songs primarily about drugs. The genre is about GROOVE, RIFFS, and having a good time, and making kick ass hard rock groovin' tunes. They should have someone who likes rock music instead pretty boy bands, to do the review, cause obviously all you care about is imange, and not music
Posted by The Man:
First off... to Scott Vile.
Just cause the genre is called Stoner Rock, doesn't mean all the bands make songs about weed and drugs. Kyuss, Fu Manchu started Stoner Rock, and they don't have songs primarily about drugs. The genre is about GROOVE, RIFFS, and having a good time, and making kick ass hard rock groovin' tunes. They should have someone who likes rock music instead pretty boy bands, to do the review, cause obviously all you care about is imange, and not music
Posted by BlakNo1: Dance-Hall reggae is the best music fer
puffin'
Posted by
BUTCH: Hey, you want a good record to smoke some
dope to, get "the best of Paolo Conte" He is an Italian poet/painter/lawyer/drunk.
He makes some crazy-ass music. Since he sings in a raspy Italian voice
it makes for a weird effect after you've hit the bong several times. "Via,
Via, Via con me" Wild stuff man. As a matter of fact, I was smoking a joint
and listening to this record when I had a strange visual of some pretty
Italian lady hanging her wash on a clothes line on a warm, windy spring
day somewhere near the western coast of Italy (this was all in my mind
but it was riviting, I'll continue to share) She had long dark hair, fair
skin, and was wearing what appeared to be a long white see-through gown
with nothing underneith and she was barefoot. The landscape was breathtaking.
Secluded, green, the blue ocean in the not-too-far distance, hilly turain.
As the wind blew her gown swayed with the breeze and her dark long hair
fell seductively on her back (wow, I continued to smoke) She was singing
along to the record and sortof dancing to it, also, It was very special.
She turned and smiled at me as her hair blew into her face. Just then I
broke out of my trance and kicked the wall. I was angry that I had lost
my train of thought and that my fantasy was over. I tried to get it back,
but it was gone. Locked in my memory forever never to happen again. It
made me sad. So I went to the fridge and got a beer. Sat down and drank
it and listen to the rest of the record wistfully. Fukk 420-viva Paolo
Conte. Love, BUTCH
Posted by
the max: What I meant was, If your a band just
starting out trying to get noticed, They're probably concentrating more
on their music then their image. If your music sucks, then no matter how
well your image fits in...kiss your chances good bye. Record companies
can always fix the image thing...It's the music that tends to be a problem.
Posted by
to, the max: actually, image is really important to
a band that is up and coming. if record labels think you don't fit in with
the current scene, kiss your chances goodbye, no matter how great the music
is...
Posted by
the max: Who gives a fukk what the band looks like?
What's the point of rating their image? If they're unknown and looking
for exposure, I'm pretty sure image is not to important at the moment.
Give them a break...One of your image reviews was 3 times as long as the
song review... whatthefukk?!
Posted by
CrowbarFan: Dude Crowbar goes off what's wrong with
you?
