Greed [CD-single] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Taken from their 2000 album Awake. This single features the radio edit of 'Greed' & 'Sweet Leaf' (Non-LP). 2001 release.

Tracks:

Half Life
Job
Why Hide
Clay Man
Your Property
Cop
Butcher
Thug
I Crawled
Raping A Slave
Young God
This Is Mine
Sealed In Skin
Fool

Tracks:

Time Is Money (Bastard)
Money Is Flesh
Another You
Blackmail
A Screw (Holy Money)
Fool #2
Stupid Child
Anything For You
Nobody
A Screw
Heaven
Coward
A Hanging
You Need Me
Greed

Amazon.com

This double-disc set compiles the complete material from three LPs and one EP released during the Swans' early years: 1984 through 1986. The band's general sound is that of a grungey electric guitar dirge, angry and sullen, not unlike a cross between a slowed down Killing Joke and Lou Reed's Street Hassle. The material is slow and methodical, somewhat spartan, with raspy semi-spoken vocals coming across like some anti-Western mantra. The first, earlier disc is the most stripped down--fuzzed guitars and bass, with a plodding beat. The second disc, although maintaining the same style, features a larger band and fuller sound, with occasional keyboards, female voices, and more complex drum patterns. The Swans' music is very unsettling, seeming at once angry and heavily medicated, as if the composer's rage is being filtered through a haze of antidepressants. It is also very good at conveying this combination of fog and emotion on a visceral level. --Michael C. Mahan

Customer Reviews:

At the Mercy of the Young God.......2007-07-14

Having been a Swans appreciator for many years, I can say this set of recordings stands as the pinnacle of the harsh and bludgening style they had cultivated in their early years, and among my personal favorites. Punishing as the music may be, here it is a finely honed and maticulously crafted monlolith of sound designed for catharsis and amidst personal suffering, given the right attitude. Perhaps only Swans devotees will truly appreciate the quality of expression on this album, but it stands as a major achievement for a highly unique & uncompromising band, as well as an important historical document of a major influence on underground music. It would be unfair to label this recording as "noise", "industrial", "post-punk" or whatever label you may be tempted to attach to it; it stands as it is. More often than not, the more difficult music makes for more rewarding listening. *Caveat Emptor: this is NOT an album to listen too if you are abjectly depressed and are considering offing yourself.

The best tracks in the set, in my opinion, are: "Half Life", "I Crawled", "Time is Money (Bastard)", "Money is Flesh", "A Screw (Holy Money" and "A Hanging".

Eldritch moods and agony in droves.......2007-02-24

Make no mistake about it, Swans are one of the most imporant bands of our time. Considering they certainly can't be pigeonholed as a mere metal, ambient, or industrial act; they somehow transcended normal classification to craft some of the most depressing and loathesome music in history. Along with this double disc, and "Filth" / "Body to Body, Job to Job", they should all be listened to in one sitting, to achieve the appropriate (hopefully desired) effect.

At a snails pace, these nightmarish soundscapes will slowly begin to sink into the subconscious realm. Gradually over time, it crawls right under your skin and festers. I'm of the opinion that these particular albums and ep's capture the true essences of dread and paranoia. The guitar "riffs" are rather disjointed and off-kilter, always keeping the listener off balance. The drums also pound and plod along in the same manner; think jazz on downers and in a really bad mood. Gira's vocals apathetically wail and shout, with an underlying sense of misanthropy. It sounds as if he just doesn't care, which is something I enjoy about his vocal style. The approach is very cynical; for these are the hatefilled and emotionless messages of a calloused soul. As for the lyrics? Minimalist and depraved. They represent all the grotesque, and oppressive thoughts and actions that are inherent in man and his societies.

I should briefly mention that I consider myself to be an enthusiast of avant-garde, and (eccentric) extreme music. I tend to listen to a lot of Doom and Dark Ambient, for it helps create the dark mood, and that sense of hopelessness, which I happen to enjoy.
Swans, however, are certainly not a metal band, yet somehow they were years ahead of their time, creating music that would scare the living daylights out of most "br00tal" death metal, and even the heaviest of doom bands.
This sort of musical expression is what naturally flowed out of Michael Gira and Co. I don't believe their approach was to be the heaviest, or a metal act; Swans simply were. Their emotions, ideas, and abilities came oozing forth from their darkest depths, and these are the end results of such pioneering musicians.

Too dissonant for the average listener, and too "artsy" and industrialized (not the pseudo, dance/pop nonsense that is passed off as such) for the staunch metal aficionado.
This is only for the most extreme and open-minded individuals, who appreciate music for it's abilitiy to create a mood, and leave a lasting impression. Personally, I could listen to this era of Swans all day long; there must be something wrong with me.

Note: A few years after Swans released these milestones, a band came along known as Godflesh. Godflesh was fronted by Justin Broadrick, who was also a member of Head of David and early Napalm Death. If you happen to listen to their debut self titled album, you'll notice a major resemblance to Cop/Young God/Greed/Holy Money; it's almost uncanny. Coincidentally, Ted Parsons is now in the band jesu with Mr. J.K. They are also worth your attention.

I'm going to recommend only one band who can contend with the audible horror of Swans; the beast known as Khanate (r.i.p.).

Astonishingly Difficult.......2006-09-21

I bought this double album in 2000, while in college and rapidly expanding my highly eclectic music collection. I sold it within the year. I simply could not handle it. Open-minded but not knowing what to expect, I was scared by this dismal noise and shockingly bleak poetry. Though I haven't heard this "music" for quite awhile now, I still distinctly remember the sound and the dull, dark pressure it caused in my chest, as I forced myself to sit through both discs in their entirety. How unfortunate for me now that this CD is difficult to find, as my tastes have expanded to include extremely challenging music. This early SWANS material is such a challenge.

Beautiful.......2006-06-08

As many others have said, this is just so intense it's ridiculous. I remember when I used to think things like Soundgarden was heavy. What a young teenage fool I was.

This is perfect essentially. It doesn't resort to melody at any point, unlike Swans later material, which I don't like as much, but I understand you can't carry on playing stuff like this forever.

The thing I love about these early records is that no one type of music fan seems to get it. Every metaller I know hates it and obviously people into pop think you're mad for listening to it. It only seems to be the most open minded of people that like swans.

I still remember the first time I heard Raping A Slave. I had never heard ANYTHING like that before. I was quite stoned. It was terrifying.

So to anyone listening to what KERRANG!!!! etc claim is heavy, buy this and learn the truth. Just don't play it to a girl in the early stages of your relationship (unless she's a fan, well done you) as she will be convinced you're a rapist.

By the way, if you can pick up the 'A Long Slow Screw' VHS anywhere, buy it and see just how truly nihilistic they were live at this point.

The most brutal and heaviest music recorded........2006-06-01

Swans are just brutal and relentless. It's just audio insanity at a monolithic pace. Like one reviewer here said, there is absolutely no middle ground when listening to Swans. You will either love it or loathe it. It demands that you play it loud.

This was music I listened to when I was an alcoholic, drinking alone at night. It has an extremely disturbing aura to it, particularly when listened to at maximum volume (as suggested on the the album covers of the original releases).

If you are a fan of the new "doom" stuff out there like Sunn O))), Khanate or Boris, you absolutely have to listen to this. This is "music" that is so heavy and devasting, words really fail to do it justice.

I still listen to these old records, even though I don't drink anymore.

Average customer rating:

Top quality hard rock from Canada
one of my favorite albums ever
The pinnacle of Ian Thornley's career!
Myles
even better

The Pleasure and the Greed
Big Wreck
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

In Loving Memory Of...
Come Again
Fallout
Second Skin
Talk Show

ASIN: B00005K9JX
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Tracks:

Inhale
Undersold
Knee Deep
Everything Is Fine
All By Design
Mistake
Ladylike
The Pleasure And The Greed
No Fault
Breakthrough
Ease My Mind
Broken Hands
Head In The Girl
All Our Days Are Numbered
West Virginia
Defined By What We Steal

Amazon.com

Give a band a little success and suddenly its members are posing next to buffet tables of wine and roast pig. In the case of The Pleasure and the Greed, the excesses of the album cover art hint at things to come--the disc is louder, raunchier, and grungier than Big Wreck's 1997 debut, In Loving Memory of... (which unleashed "The Oaf" onto Billboard's Top 10). Canyon-filling electric guitars and misty-mountain acoustic textures top thunderous rhythms, while vocalist and chief songwriter Ian Thornley's hairy-chested bellowings turn even the most innocuous melody into a Viking battle cry.

The Pleasure and the Greed never strays too far from the Toronto-based band's defiantly untrendy Led Zep-encrusted blueprint, but the disc does deliver a number of standout moments. "Everything Is Fine" is a pounding, snotty Alice in Chains-like dirge, and "All by Design" rocks with a soaring chorus and majestic lead-guitar line. The title track steals a page out of the Aerosmith songbook for a funky white-boy break, while the carefree acoustic groove, casual vocal, and ragtime piano of "Ease My Mind" offer a respite from the Charles Atlas guitars. Still, those looking for head-banging epiphanies need look no further than "Undersold," "Ladylike," "Mistake," or just about any one of this disc's other 13 foot-stompers. --Shawn Conner

Customer Reviews:

Top quality hard rock from Canada.......2006-11-10

My introduction to Big Wreck came via the Audio Galaxy Canadian Rock Fan newsgroup. I knew there was plenty of great undiscovered Rock talent from Canada, so I asked one of the fans to send me some samples. I was sent the song "Ladylike". WOW! That song totally blew my mind. It is still by far my favourite Wreck song. I am sure by the other reviews (Havent checked them yet) that there will be references to a certain Chris Cornell and Soundgarden. That's OK. I was never really a Soundgarden fan, but I love this. It is far better than "In loving memory of" and the much heavier Thornley CD. Other favourite songs are the Bluesy Ease my mind and the Haunting, Climatic Defined by what we steal. Again, I dont consider there to be any weak tracks, and as I write, I see Amazon has this CD available at $2.99 and In loving memory for $0.99. That can't be right. Get this CD and ILMO NOW.

one of my favorite albums ever.......2005-12-02

Just like their first album, Big Wreck just makes a totally kick ass rock album. It's darker/heavier than the first, with less slide guitar (which totally works, trust me...and I'm no fan of slide guitar).

The key to this album is to give it multiple listens. I was disappointed when I first got this. Then I made myself listen again because I paid the 15 bucks. Now I love it. Easily one of my favorite 5 albums ever.

The pinnacle of Ian Thornley's career!.......2005-09-19

The band's second album The Pleasure and the Greed (released in 2001) was at disadvantage by poor marketing and was not as big a hit as their debut album, especially in the US. Sadly Big Wreck broke up a year later partly because of it. This is my review.

This is Big Wreck's biggest and best album, no bones about it. Their sound is less metal and more experimental with tunes like "Ease my Mind" and my favorite song of all time, "Defined by What we Steal". Though it shares the same score as In Loving Memory....., The Pleasure and the Greed would get a 14 if my score system went any higher. There exists nothing like this record. It's a beefy release at 16 songs, all more than worth the resources it took to record them. "Inhale", "Ladylike" and "Knee Deep", the latter being released only in Canada. Hence "poor marketing". It's also more than worth mentioning that Ian Thornley wrote all of the music for this and the last album.

"Defined by What we Steal" is first and foremost, the greatest song the band ever released. Sadly it was not a single, it absolutely should have been though. But it would have been violently cut in half like that of "Blown Wide Open", another lengthy epic, and I doubt Ian would have that. I'll let you draw your own definition for this song, though it hasn't been confirmed to my knowledge, my interpretation of this song goes as follows. It seems as though Ian is talking about possibly crimes or general thefts of ones past, that come back to haunt them. In the moment, it's a rush, "just for a moment we're sure we're alive". This song could mean multiple things, but that is just my interpretation.

"All By Design" is a great tune, just a great rock song. This should have been released as a single, I think it would have worked. That was always one of the things that puzzled me about Big Wreck, songs that could have been released just weren't. But I cite mediocre performance of previously released singles as the reason Atlantic didn't put a fourth tune(four on In Loving Memory....).

"Head in the Girl" IS exactly how it sounds, and no I won't and don't think I need to go into it. But man, let me tell you, it's a great tune. Big Wreck is one of those groups that only uses swearing when they think it's necessary, and Ian uses it a bit here. If you are offended by this, skip the track. But if not, it's one of the better songs on the record.

"The Pleasure and the Greed" is an interesting song. It changes a ways through into like, a totally different song. As does "Defined by What We Steal". Signature Big Wreck. It actually goes from a slow ballad sound to almost comedic and light. It's odd, but that's Big Wreck for you. And it's one of the things that makes them great.

"Ease My Mind" is the best description of experimental for modern rock music if you ask me. Think of something that you'd hear in the 40's, that's exactly what this is. They've filtered the vocals to make it posess or mimmick the imperfections of mid 20th century technology.

The Pleasure and the Greed is Big Wreck's greatest album, "sophomore slump" does not apply here. Look elsewhere snobby critics! Big Wreck was immune. Sadly their second was their last and as noted earlier, the band did indeed break up. Big Wreck wound down around 2002 after The Pleasure and the Greed's 2001 release. After playing instrumental work for artists like Sarah Harmer(ambient guitar) and Stephen Fearing before shortly going on to form Thornley in 2003, an appropriatley titled Canadian rock band of arguably equal talent. Do me a favor, do Ian a favor, and buy The Pleasure and the Greed, aswell as In Loving Memory...., because they are important, standout records and didn't sell like they should have.

Myles.......2005-06-15

Myles,

Are you still obsessed with the car from the ZZ Top videos?

Please advise.

-J

even better.......2005-03-15

With this release, Big Wreck expands on what made In Loving Memory of... so great. With a whopping 16 tracks, there is no filler (at least in my opinion). Reaching further into their blues and country influences, Big Wreck branched out and made a surprisingly cohesive album. Each song stands on its own without upstaging the rest of the album. As a result, there aren't really any obvious singles--just 16 solid hard rock songs.

Thank you Big Wreck.

Average customer rating:

Sins and Greed
Blitzkrieg
Manufacturer: Metal Nation Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

A Time of Changes- Phase 1
Magic
Redivivus

ASIN: B0009SC7TA
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Tracks:

Hell Express
Standing Still
Rise
Traitors Gate
Excessive Force
Escape from the Village
Eyes of the World
Calm Waters
Desolation Angel
Silent Scream
Jeckyl & Hyde
Hell Bent for Leather

Average customer rating:

Amazon comes through
Very New Wav-ish, very Lidsay-esque, very exciting!!
I Agree
Long lost

Greed
Ambitious Lovers
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Lust
Salt
Hyper Civilizado (Remixes)

ASIN: B00001ZTL7
Release Date: 1999-12-22

Tracks:

Copy Me
Privacy
Caso
King
Omotesando
Too Fair
Love Overlap
Admit It
Steel Wool
Para Nao Contririar Voce
Quasi You
It Only Has To Happen Once
Dot Stuff

Customer Reviews:

Amazon comes through.......2004-04-04

You've got to have a jazz bent to appreciate this music but I've been searching for a replacement to my worn out "Greed" cassette for YEARS. Leave it to Amazon to come through - damn that Amazon!

If you've ever been lucky enough to be turned on to Michael Franks ('70s - present) and enjoyed him, you'll thank the day you found Ambitious Lovers. Their international flair will likely have you hooked; portuguese is a fantastic language and this duo's accented English is as easy and fun to listen to (makes you feel like you're living a lazy little life on the outskirts of Rio) as the CD itself...Enjoy!

Very New Wav-ish, very Lidsay-esque, very exciting!!.......2002-04-24

Ambitious Lovers are Arto Lindsay (vocals, guitar) and Peter Scherer (keyboards, synth bass, drum programming and sampling). While I don't know much about the latter, Arto Lindsay went on to become one of the most venerated solo artists among the NY downtown music scene. Actually his 1999 album "Prize" ranks among my favourites with his bossa-pop style and experimental inclinations... AL take the angular funk of Talking Heads, mix it with a pinch of Brazilian flavour and avant-garde attitude and... there you are, one of the most exciting albums among those I recently purchased. Some tracks remind me of Lindsay's later solo efforts while others have an alternative dance/post-punk feel. Buy this stuff while it's still available

I Agree.......2000-11-08

A great album. A nice mix of romantic latin flavors and pop. You also get some guitar from Vernon Reid from Living Colour. You will know it's him the second he rips into some lead. All in all this is real music and not bubble gum.

Long lost.......2000-08-05

I miss this record. Envy is great too.

The killer tracks are Copy Me, Love Overlap, Admit It, and It Only Has To Happen Once.

Some of these tracks are featured on the Slaves of New York soundtrack.

Tracks:

Prologue
Introduction
Scene 1: The Sheriff And The Hangman Enter
Scene 1: 'Wait! Gimme A Break...'
Scene 2: Sheriff And Hangman Announce Entrance Of Johnny's Mother
Scene 2: Duet - 'Have You Brought Me Silver?'
Scene 2: 'Let's Get Him...'
Scene 3: 'Hangman, Slack Your Rope...'
Scene 3: Sheriff, Hangman And Townspeople 'Let's Check That It's Not A Lie...'
Scene 3: 'Sorry Sonny Johnny...'
Scene 4: Instrumental Section
Scene 4: 'Hangman, Slack Your Rope...'
Scene 4: 'Wait! I'm His Sweetheart...'
Scene 4: 'No Waiting...'
Scene 4: 'I Don't Ask Your Forgiveness...'
Finale: 'Nonsense...'
Finale: 'Viva Johnny!!'
Finale: 'What The Heck!...'
Part I: Prelude
Part I Scene I: 'Petting My Cigar...'
Part I: Deals - 'Hi Mr. Johnny'
Part I: Lento: 'In My Dreams I Rode High...'
Part I: A Deal - 'I'm Tokopoko'
Part I: 'I Am Your Sweetheart...'
Part I: 'Sorry Sweetheart...'
Part I: Johnny, Back In His Office With Mother, Father And Sweetheart
Part II: 'There Is Trouble In Town...'
Part II: 'Let's Hang Him At Once...'
Part II: 'Quiet Everyone...'
Part II: Lento Molto - Finale Love Duet: 'I Love You'
Part II: Piu Mosso: 'Pull Him...'
Part II: Epilogue

Customer Reviews:

More great contemporay music from Naxos.......2006-01-20

Baladas music has a certian accesibilty blended with purely modern language. These two short chamber operas also with librtettos by the composer which reflects his political concerns are also quite funny at times. These operas are fully modern in their composition but are less orchechtrated than his works given that they are chamber operas. Very well peformed by the Carnegie Mellon Opera with the same singers in both. The complete libretto is included

Average customer rating:

Whatever happened to these guys?
A MUST BUY FOR THE ALTERNATIVE METAL ELITE.
excellent
PULKAS ARE THE BEST THERE WAS, ARE AND EVERY WILL BE!
pulkas are the kings of British metal

Greed
Pulkas
Manufacturer: Earache Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Loaded
Rubber Room
Drown
Hippy Fascist
Betrayal
Control
This Is It
Rebirth
Flesh
Eh?
Close To The Enemy

Customer Reviews:

Whatever happened to these guys?.......2004-02-11

Those who feel there is still room for more hardcore-influenced groove metal in this world should welcome Pulkas with open arms. Many will have already witnessed their party crashing debut on the Earplugged 2 comp from last year, and here in the 9-8 the band are back for more. "Rubber Room" marries a chunky bassline to a Rage/Sepultura hybrid chorus. If I were Pulkas, I'd definitely start my live set with this one. Like sonic cousins Korn, Pulkas seem to recognize the value of melodic singing and quiet passages as an effective contrast to the more bombastic displays of riff bludgeoning, as witnessed by "Drown", a fairly mellow number that escalates through several stages of mounting blood pressure before erupting into "Hippy Fascist", the Earplugged track that brought the band to the attention of metal fans worldwide looking for the next big thing. Throughout the remainder of the album Pulkas manage to work all of their influences into their sound without making it ridiculously overt. But what makes them more valuable than most similar bands on the scene is not originality but consistency. Even though the songs are all based around fairly simple power chord progressions and shouted call-and-response choruses, there's a freshness to each of the eleven tracks which allows each to maintain a singular identity, whereas many of these types of records tend to blur together into one seamless mess. Thanks should probably go to studio mastermind Colin Richardson, who masterminded the sonic blueprint for this effort with the same dedication he gave Fear Factory and the legions of other bands he's helped out over the years. But then again, these guys supposedly kick ass live so any producer chosen would've had a lot to work with.

A MUST BUY FOR THE ALTERNATIVE METAL ELITE........2000-04-03

The debue album Greed by Pulkas is a dynamic,melodic, and mosh-worthy ride through a soundscape that merges the intensity of korn,deftones,tool and pantera set to scathing lyrics of negativity,pessimism and harsh social commentry,listening to Greed is a furious ride through groovecore riffery tribal pummeling drums and vocals which sound as if their spit is dripping through the head-phones.Greed is a must-buy for the alternative metal elite. Review by A.Locketz

excellent.......1999-12-23

a few months back (a while ago actually) i wrote a review about this cd, giving it 4 stars. I now retract that opinion. It's SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better than i gave it credit for! these guys are the future. watch em cos theyre gonna be HUGE!

PULKAS ARE THE BEST THERE WAS, ARE AND EVERY WILL BE!.......1999-06-08

Pulkas are the type of band that will only be created once. The lads combine a frenzied mix of Deftones and Tool into a big, angry, hard as nails beast that goes straight for your throat. "Loaded" and "Control" are two of the best songs I have ever heard with "This is it" snapping closely at the heels. If you buy only one album ever "Greed" is the one to get!

pulkas are the kings of British metal.......1999-04-12

Pulkas rock. its that simple. Songs like Betrayal and Hippy Fascist kick you in the face with their ferocity and live the intensity is 10 times worse. IF YOU LIKE THESE THEN CHECK OUT EARTHTONE 9- THEIR ALBUM "LOW DEF(INITION) DISCHORD" IS THE HEAVIEST THING I HAVE HEARD SINCE KORN!

Average customer rating:

Unsung Power Pop for 2002!!
"Big Ideas" should make Big Impact

Big Ideas

Manufacturer: Corporate Greed
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Odds of Winning
You Are Here

ASIN: B00007JNX9
Release Date: 2002-05-15

Tracks:

Lights are on But No One's Home
One Foot in the Grave
Run Out Of Things To Say
Sugar Daddy
Na Na
Blind Deaf and Dumb
Me And My Big Ideas
To Each His Own Cubicle
Close My Eyes
Ordinary
Smile
She Won't Let It Go
Please Carolyn
Did What I Did
Dear Jon

Customer Reviews:

Unsung Power Pop for 2002!!.......2002-12-26

their major label debut, 'You Are Here', showed the group advanced songwriting and pop savvy. the new 'Big Ideas' is even better...a leap forward in both their pop and rock sides have elevated a good band into a great one...they may not be on a major label anymore, but 'Big Ideas' is a major follow up and one great record...r.i.y.l. Cloud Eleven, the Flashing Lights, Matthew Sweet, the Posies, Teenage Fanclub

"Big Ideas" should make Big Impact.......2002-12-24

I've been a CHURCHILLS fan since the first moment I heard "Beautiful", the opening track off of their 2000 release entitled "You Are Here." In an era when a lot of "rock" sounds more like rap and "country" sounds more like pop, a trip to the local CD store can turn into a downright frightening experience. Maybe I'm just getting older, but I find myself running back to my high school record collection more and more often these days. The Churchills are one exception to that rule. With them, I can have the kind of sounds I enjoy and still feel like some young, hip (do people even say "hip" anymore?) dude who's on the cutting edge of the music scene! Actually, I coaxed myself out of an early semi-retirement from writing reviews only for the fact that I heard they had a new album out.

Half a minute into their latest effort, "Big Ideas", and I remembered why I dig this band so much. The opening guitar riff of "Lights Are On But No One's Home" gives a first impression of some young modern rock band. A closer listen, however, reveals complex harmonies and chord structures (courtesy of Ron Haney & Bart Schoudel) and clever rhythm changes (Alex Smolinski)... evidence of a well-crafted and unique musical style. Their infectious hooks are reminiscent of the 1980's more melodic groups (Squeeze, Split Enz, etc.), but with a vibe that's commercial enough to deserve heavy rotation on Top-40 radio stations nationwide. "Close My Eyes" is the tune that's stuck in my head at the moment, and the year's Best Ballad Award would go to "Smile." It's sung with a perfect vocal delivery that requires none of the overdub-laden production techniques so favored by many of today's recording artists.

Tracks:

The Four Seasons 'Autumn': Allegro - Takako Nishizaki
Symphony No.6 'Le Matin': Adagio-Allegro - Northern Chamber Orchestra/Nicolas Ward
The Four Seasons 'Spring': Allegro - Takako Nishizaki
The Lark Ascending - David Greed
Symphony No.7 'Le Midi': Finale: Allegro - Northern Chamber Orchestra/Nicolas Ward
Symphony No.38: Menuet: Allegretto - Capella Istropolitana/Barry Wordsworth
Symphony No.83: Finale: Vivace - Capella Istropolitana/Barry Wordsworth
Concerto Alla Rustica: Presto - Takako Nishizaki
Concerto Alla Rustica: Adagio - Takako Nishizaki
Concerto Alla Rustica: Allegro - Takako Nishizaki
Alexander's Feast: Allegro - Capella Istropolitana/Josef Kopelman
Alexander's Feast: Largo - Capella Istropolitana/Josef Kopelman
Alexander's Feast: Allegro - Capella Istropolitana/Josef Kopelman
Alexander's Feast: Andante, Non Presto - Capella Istropolitana/Josef Kopelman
Pastoral Sketches No.1: A Legend - Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava)/Gary Carpenter
Pastoral Sketches No.3: A Village Festival - Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava)/Gary Carpenter