Things Get More Metallic: Mini Review Rampage, Music Edition #4

I think the amount of albums I'm reviewing is exceeding the amount I'm reviewing, if only barely. These will eventually come to a close; I can almost taste the end. But for now, the rampage on your ears continues via the route of your eyes. Revel in the fourth installment of my album reviews.

Artist: Rage Against the Machine

Album: Evil Empire

Genre: Rock (Alternative & Punk)

5-Starred Songs: 3 (out of 11)

As I think I said before in my reviews of Rage Against the Machine, although I don't necessarily identify with the ideas and the mentality behind the music, they can be quite enjoyable in the appropriate mood. With that said, in my personal opinion "Evil Empire" is the weakest album of the 3 released. Although it features some excellent pieces like Revolver and Vietnow the rest of the album is mostly composed of "good but not great" songs. If you like their music style in general I suspect it's on par with their others, but for me a lot of the songs just didn't quite cut it. It's definitely not bad, in any way, but I do think it's the weakest.

Making the Noise Marines Proud: Mini-Review Rampage, Music Edition #2

I'm getting bad at coming up with clever introductions to these, so I'll just continue on and start the first music review. Feedback is as always welcome!

Artist: Wolf Parade

Album: Expo 86

Genre: Alternative (Indie Rock)

5-Starred Songs: 6 (out of 11)

Wolf Parade has for quite some time now been one of my all-time favorite bands. Their debut album, Apologies to the Queen Mary, while not perfect, was quite impressive and got my hooked. Their second album, At Mount Zoomer, is as close to a perfect album as I can imagine existing: every song was great, and I had no complaints, and it still sits as one of my personal "best albums of all time." Therefore when they released their third (and probably final) album, I had some trepidation. Could it possibly match At Mount Zoomer, or was I bound for disappointment?

The answer to both queries, weirdly, is no. It wasn't quite as good as At Mount Zoomer, but it was still a great album nonetheless. It opens with the rollicking, catchy, and upbeat Cloud Shadow On The Mountain, and cycles through a number of other upbeat, powerfully strumming-along songs such as Cave-o-sapien and Yulia. Overall the album is probably the upbeat of the trio of albums, and probably comes closer to pop in some ways, but it's still very thoroughly a Wolf Parade album even with the shift of emphasis. Although not a perfect album, overall it still did not disappoint, and is a great listen.