Jun 5, 2003

np: "purify" - metallica
yeah, i said Metallica. holdover from my youthful days i guess. the "St. Anger" single about completely turned me off of this album, but i still decided to give it a try tonight. and the verdict is....... meh. it's not the "return to glory" it's been hyped as, but i really didn't expcet Ride the Lightning/Master of Puppets all over again. but they did move away from the Load/Reload direction, which is a good thing in my opinion. not that i was one of those people who freaked when they cut the hair, but those albums took that dorection about as far as it could go. the playing on this album is fucking incredible at times - especially on "Purify", but James has lost quite a step in his vocal abilities. it's as if he singes every song, even the harder ones, in that slower "Turn the Page" rasp instead of the rage of his early days. granted, the guys getting up there now, but this album would be about 10,000 times better with the old James singing.
speaking of new directions, Jewel. what the fuck? i've had a weakness for Jewel ever since Pieces of You, call me crazy. her last album wasn't all that exciting, but this was really not the direction i was hoping she would head. 90% of the new album is backed by beats and programming, a huuuuge departure for her. but, oddly enough, it almost works. she does manage to sound a whole lot more fresh than she has in years, but i'm not exactly sure if it's a freshness that i particularly enjoy. for what the pop-oriented songs they are, i'll gladly listen to this over Sheryl Crow or Avril any day, but i'm gonna miss the sensitive folkie.

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