56. Truly - heart and lungs

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

This is an interesting ep. Hiro Yamamoto left Soundgarden for reasons I am not too sure of and three years later or so, released this on Sub Pop. It's grungy (although at this point I am not even sure what that means) but melodic (I am not a critic, of course grunge can be melodic, every great song is). Worth checking out if you are a fan of the era and/or Soundgarden.

7.5 out of 10

55. Soundgarden - pretty noose

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

I obviously got this before getting 'Down on the upside' where the three tracks come from. An interview track and poster is also included. Pointless to own now, it isn't worth anything so I'll keep it...I think...

6 out of 10

54. Soundgarden - down on the upside

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

I got this not too long ago (2001 I think), it was in the used bin and was one of the few still missing in my collection. It didn't hurt that I had also recently heard 'Burden in my hand' and thought it was decent. The album is just that: decent. It's tough to get rid of an album from a band you like, especially if it's their last - so I won't, I'll hold onto it in place of the other SG albums I am trading in.

6 out of 10

53. Soundgarden - superunkown

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

I have always been on the fence about this album. At first I thought it was great, excellent, then 'Black Hole Sun' was on MTV more than Coolio was. Of course any overplayed song can ruin an album - and for a while it ruined this one. Listening to it again I realized what the problem is. The songs are all pretty solid and catchy - soundgarden songs shouldn't be catchy - they should be difficult. Obviously the album isn't a waist, the 'superunkown' just sounds a little too familiar.

7 out of 10

52. Soundgarden - badmotorfinger

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

Before I started this I used to feel that Louder than love was better than this - I wondered what the band would have sounded like if Yamamoto had stayed on. This was released in 91, Nirvana had happened already, I think and it featured new bass player Ben Shepard. The album is musically further along than LTL, right down to Chris' vocals. This is one heavy, nasty album - the kind you really get into after repeated listens. 'Jesus Christ Pose', 'Room a Thousand Years Wide' and 'Slaves & Bulldozers' are amazing.

8.5 out of 10

51. Soundgarden - louder than love

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

The band started to define their sound, to only develop it further once bass player Yamamoto left - I for one liked the sound he added - a sort of psychedelic quality. This album made metal sound like the Nsync. Released in 1989.

7 out of 10

50. Soundgarden - screaming life/fopp

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

This fopp e.p. is a flop. With the exception of 'swallow my pride' there is little here to revist and listen to - a lot of it uninspired.

4 out of 10

49. Soundgarden - utramega ok

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

This was released in 1988 on SST and I am not sure what I was listening to but it wasn't this (probably skid row) - if I were I would have dropped 'youth gone wild' right away. The album is very basic and metal sounding but you can tell that they were also contributing to the 'change' in music that would soon take place.

6 out of 10

48. Temple of the Dog - temple of the dog

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

I can safely say I hadn't played this album in at least 7 years, and as soon as I put it on I started to sing along. That's the problem with doing this blog, I am not going to be that objective because it's not like I am reviewing brand new albums - the majority are records that I already love or have some sort of 'when I was off in college' or something cliché. Anyway, the band consists of Chris/Matt from Soundgarden and Mike/Jeff/Stone from Pearl Jam - one track contains vocals by Eddie Vedder. The disc is an ode to Andrew Wood from MLB who was Chris' roomate and Stone/Jeff's bandmate. "temple of dog' is from a lyric on Apple, I forget which song and as I mentioned already 'Times of Trouble' has the same riff as 'Footsteps'. The best way to describe the album I guess is that it's a genuine mesh of both bands. And for what it is, especially at the time it is a great album.

8 out of 10

47. Mother Love Bone - apple

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

On my previous post I said that MLB were stuck in this period where hair metal was fading away and something good was starting to come out - on 'Apple' the band was actually making that transition happen. There are still glimpses of metal here and there, but for the most part you can tell that the band has a more sophisticated sound.

7 out of 10

46. Mother Love Bone - shine

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

I am sure you all know the story by now so I'll spare you. The bands first release was this e.p., then 'Apple', by which that time Andrew Wood was already dead. Years later this e.p. was packaged together with 'Apple' as 'Stardog Champion' to profit on PJ's success. MLB were together at a time when music was becoming good again, hair metal was on it's way out and something better was coming along...
with the exception of 'Crown of Thorns' there isn't much worthwhile on this disc. I am going to keep it though since it is out of print.

4 out of 10

45. Brad - interiors

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

Four years have passed and it sounds like the band have't stopped playing together. The songs are more mature, developed, tighter - they have developed a sound of their own. Makes me want to pick up their last release. Good pop (I'll bring up my pop theory later).

8 out of 10

44. Brad - shame

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

As you can tell by now when I really like something I get very into it. I bought this because it has Stone Gossard from PJ. It came out in 1993 before Vs. I think - Shawn Smith has a great voice. The album is poppy and bluesy, a great start for this band - not a masterpiece but worth looking into.

7.5 out of 10

43. Pearl Jam - radio pollution/1995 (bootleg)

I don’t know too much about this disc outside of the date and it being recorded for a radio session. The majority of the songs are from ‘Vitalogy’ – the sound is really great, the band sounds eager to play the new tracks – the session was also captured on ‘hype’s soundtrack for the song ‘Not for you’. It’s intimate and teeming.

8 out of 10

42. Pearl Jam - mtv unplugged (bootleg)

Anyone who ever witnessed that show knows how amazing this is. Also includes a disc of the sound check which is interesting but boring if you are not a big fan. Hearing ‘Porch’ still gives me the chills. Sound quality is great too.

9.5 out of 10

41. Pearl Jam - jeremy

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

I kept this because of ‘Footsteps’ – I love that song and how I was so sly to figure out it was the same riff as ‘Times of trouble’. Even though it is on ‘Lost Dogs’ too the version is different (it does not contain any harmonica), and I really prefer this one. Unfortunately it’s backed by ‘Yellow Ledbetter’.

7 out of 10 (all for ‘Footsteps’)

40. Pearl Jam - lost dogs

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

I hoped that this would help me get rid of some of my other singles, and it turned out I couldn't get rid of any. That turned out to not be a bad thing. This double disc collects tracks form compilations, soundtracks and b-sides. It's a pretty solid collection - making me wonder why certain tracks made it onto particular albums and not some of these. Interesting to read the stories behind each track - a lot of good stuff came out of the Binaural sessions.

7 out of 10

39. Pearl Jam - riot act

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

The problem with this album is that it isn't really an album - it's more like a collection of songs that don't work together - the only thing they have in common is that they have nothing in common. Partly I think, because there are so many different writers per track. I still find myself thinking 'is this really Pearl Jam' when listening to it. There are about four decent tracks, I wouldn't eeven consider the rest to be decent bsides. I think I am going to burn this and trade it in.

4 out of 10

38. Pearl Jam - seattle/11.06.00

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

At this point holding back was…pointless. Why not end this with the 3 disc bonanza of the final show. The setlist is expansive covering all albums and including 'the kids are alright' and 'baba o riley'. They don't seem like they are rushing through the songs, but they do seem satisfied that the tour is over.

7.5 out of 10

37. Pearl Jam - seattle/11.05.00

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

So I had heard the xmas single of 'Crown of Thorns' and had to have it - the lp version converted into mp3 wouldn't do. So I bought this one new, I think, and heard the track and realized it sounded different - it was missing the backing vocals on the song that I had downloaded earlier. That one is on some other disc. They are clearly home and eager to play. Solid playlist and playing. Did I say that I hate ‘Yellow Ledbetter’?

7.5 out of 10

36. Pearl Jam - indianapolis/08.18.00

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

So here I am again, this one was $5.99 and well worth it. The show starts off as another regular PJ show (except obviously for the "Instellar Overdrive' intro). By the time you get to 'Nothing as it seems' you can tell that the band is really getting relaxed and into what they are playing...'Betterman' has an interesting little intro and 'Go' a reverb drenched outro. Contains 'Throw your arms around me'.

8 out of 10

35. Pearl Jam - west palm beach/08.10.00

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

By now you can tell I have a problem. I was at the show so I had to get it.

7.5 out of 10

34. Pearl Jam - berlin/25.06.00

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

Two years later, everywhereyou turned you'd see these little guys on sale for $5 at a used cd store. I have no idea why I bought this. It's good, but c'mon, even I can't bear to hear 'Daughter' again. I do remember now that I was hoping that this version of 'Indifference' would be better than on Spodek - and because it was $5 (and indifference was worse).

6.5 out of 10

33. Pearl Jam - verona/20.06.00

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

All my cd's were in storage and I was moving up to the city and I only had about 10 or so cd's that I had recently purchased for my drive. So I decided to pick up another live disc. I remembered having read that this one had the most tracks on it - and Vedder even says that they haven't played Italy in so long that they are going to make up for it. Unfortunately it sounds like the band are going through the motions, just playing song after song trying to get through the 30 plus set list. The sound is muffled and there is hardly any banter between the band and the crowd. Also for the record, I hate 'Yellow Ledbetter', god that song sucks.

6.5 out of 10

32. Pearl Jam - spodek/16.06.00

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

All of sudden Pearl Jam were releasing all 70 plus of their live shows with more to follow possibly. I went into a frenzy, tried to do some research online to find out if this was true or bullshit. I rushed out to Best Buy and tried to blindly pick a disc, I think 25 had been released that day. I picked this one up because it had 'Insignificance' on it. I haven't heard even 10% of the live albums, but I love this cd. The band doesn't sound rushed, the sound is crisp and clear - it feels very intimate and quiet. Almost perfect.

9 out of 10

31. Pearl Jam - light years

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

Again I was a victim of the bargain bin - $1.99 and it came with a limited edition number on it - when I got this I was already aware of the released live material, hell I already owned a lot of it. I bought it to add meaning to my life - or a number - #13512.
It contains the single and two live tracks, 'soon forget' and 'grievance'. Pointless.

3 out of 10

30. Pearl Jam - binaural

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

'There's a light when my babys in my arms...'. This is another great album - my faith in the band had been restored. There are so many great songs, all working really well together. Again I rushed out to see them - without Chad this time because he had to go move to N.J. for a month. I was also happy that Matt Cameron was working out (not weight lifting). "It don't seem fair, for days to dissapear..."

9 out of 10

29. Pearl Jam - last kiss

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

I bought this because it was $1.99. I kept it because 'Soldier of Love' isn't on 'Lost Dogs'. I admit like any other romantic, or romantic wanna be, I liked the melancholy of 'Last Kiss' - but strange that it is the band's biggest radio hit. 'soldier of Love' is okay - at least the proceeds were for a good cause.

6.5 out of 10

28. Pearl Jam - live on two legs

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

I went to go see them again for this tour with Chad and it was easily one of the best shows I have ever seen. So when this came out I of course wanted to relive my experience and the album does that pretty well, but when compared to what was later released it is almost an unecessary release - and I say almost because it is still a great set of live songs - but now it's just another set in a pile of 100 or so.

7.5 out of 10

27. Pearl Jam - wishlist

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

Again at the time I had no idea of the amount of live material that would be released and I really wanted to hear 'Brain of J' live. 'U' is also a great b side, and would have been great on the album itself - it also appears on 'lost dogs' as 'You' on the back cover and again as 'U' on the liner notes.

8 out of 10

26. Pearl Jam - given to fly

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

Given that I hate 'Leatherman' I am not sure why I have this 3 track single - oh because 'Leatherman' isn't on 'Lost Dogs'. The song isn't that bad actualy, I think it is 'guilty by association' with those other two 'man' tracks. It's actually a decent track.

7 out of 10

25. Pearl Jam - yield

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

Before 'Yield' had come out I was starting to question PJ. I wasn't crazy about 'Vitalogy' and 'No Code'. I went to go see them for the 'No Code' tour when they were playing at baseball fields protesting Ticketmaster - unfortunately the sound was terrible. 'Yield' came out and I remember seeing the cover of the album and thinking 'oh, no' - I know don't judge a cd by... I bought it and heard 'the whole world will be different soon..'. 'Faithfull' is fucking amazing, as is 'MFC', 'In Hiding' and 'Brain of J' - I would almost give it a ten if it weren't for 'Untitled' and 'Push me, Pull me'. I also highly recommend seeing 'Single Video Theory'.

9 out of 10

24. Pearl Jam - no code

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

'Sometimes' is another great tune and opener for a cd. 'Smile' is another one of my all time favourite PJ tracks '...I miss you already, I miss you always'. Although it does have its weak moments, songs like the ones above along with 'Lukin' and 'Around the bend' make the album interesting. And again, great packaging.

7.5 out of 10

23. Pearl Jam - merkinball

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

I must have traded in Neil Young's 'Mirrorball' for cash to buy crack - I don't really remember hearing it - I just know that I bought it because Pearl Jam were his backing band, and inexplicably I got rid of it. I absolutley love 'I got id', to me it is one of the best Pearl Jam songs ever - Young's guitar playing on it is amazing. 'Long Road' is a much quiter tune, but nonetheless good - I would like to hear this again as it recommends I should, accompanied by 'Mirrorball'.

8 out of 10

22. Pearl Jam - vitalogy

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

'restless souls, enjoy your youth'. I remember seeing Pearl Jam on saturday night live and they played 'Not for you' - at that point I was dying for this album to come out - and when it did I remember thinking the songs on the album didn't really congeal to well, and I still feel the same way - I never understood the point of recording, let alone including 'pry, to' , 'bugs' or 'hey foxymophandlemama, that's me' - 'nothingman' and 'better man' are a bore - with the exception of 'Not for you', 'Last exit', 'Tremor Christ', 'Corduroy' and 'Immortality' the album really isn't necessary. Great packaging though.

6.5 out of 10

21. Pearl Jam - not for you

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

I must have been out of my mind when I bought this. Backed by only one other track, 'Out of my mind', this single is pointless. The doesn't go anywhere or do anything, it's like a conversation you have with a cab driver. Getting rid of this, I think (may just burn all of my singles onto a disc).

3 out of 10

20. Pearl Jam - immortality

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

There is obviously one reason why I own this 2 track cd. The Frogs version of 'rearviewmirror' is great - I am a sucker for bands covering other songs.

8 out of 10

19. Pearl Jam - go

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

Yes there was a time that I truly loved Pearl Jam and had a decent income...there are 3 tracks on the cd - 'go' is a great song, but I have it already. The acoustic version of 'elderly...' is okay - Vedder's voice is somewhat weak. 'Alone" is from the Vs. sessions I assume, and is a good track - it could have easily been on the 'Vs.' album, it is the only redeeming quality of the disc.

5 out of 10

18. Pearl Jam - vs.

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

Although the spine on the disc, and the disc itself only says 'Pearl Jam' apparently the cd is called Vs.. I love this album for many reasons - and even though it also contains over played tracks like Ten did ('daughter', 'elderly woman...'), I can safely say 'I won't change direction, and I won't change my mind' - this is still an amazing record, put out at an amazing time of my life. Notice how many songs were cowritten by Abbruzzese. I often considered buying the digipak release just to have it. It doesn't get better than "Indifference'.

10 out of 10

17. Dissident - pearl jam

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

Clearly i got this before knowing that Pearl Jam would release basically every live show they ever played. The single contains six live tracks recorded in 1994. The live tracks are great, the band sounds angry, edgy and energized, especially Vedder - recorded during the Vs. tour, they were still clearly excited about playing. I would give this a higher rating if there weren't 100 other live recordings to choose from.

7.5 out of 10

16. Pearl Jam - ten

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

I love this album. no matter how many assholes have played 'alive' driving down the street or 'jeremy' at a sports bar, it is still an amazing album. My first copy got stolen so when I bought it again I got the import with the extra tracks, which don't really add anything. The first song I heard from them was 'Once' when I sat down to listen to the album.

9.5 out of 10

15. Mad Season - above

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

Interesting line up: Mike from Pearl Jam, Layne from Alice, Barrett from Screaming Trees and some other guy. This came out before Alice in Chains' last album I believe and it is pretty interesting to hear Mike play without Vedder singing and Layne singing something that isn't so Jerry Cantrell like. Mike's playing is very loose and hendrix sounding, while Layne's vocals are pretty un grunge like too. Worth for any fan of either band to at least check out.

7 out of 10

14. Alice in Chains - live

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

Columbia records clearly was trying to make the quick buck here. The song selections aren't bad, and the emotion in the performances are there, but the sound quality sucks. It sounds like it's a taper bootleg - I've downloaded better. They either should have released the best possible quality or nothing at all.

6.5 out of 10

13. Alice in Chains - mtv unplugged

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

It almost seems that MTV knew he was going to die soon - I remember thinking that Unplugged didn't even exist anymore. Although it was great to hear and see them after being absent for so long, to me it was clear that Layne was already in trouble, and his voice no longer had the strength it once did. I am glad the album came out, but it doesn't stand out as one of the best unplugged performances ever. Still I am pleased to have it.

7 out of 10

12. Alice in Chains - alice in chains

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

This is the album that I am least familiar with. I wasn't even that excited about it when it came out, but due to some sort of allegiance to the band I picked it up. Since it became the last studio album the band ever put out I am glad I did so. Surely I am still somewhat melancholy over Layne's death - but I really liked this album, it stands on its own merits. It is aptly titled since it borrows from all of their albums. The last track 'Over Now' is now, perfectly fitting.

8 out of 10

11. Alice in Chains - jar of flies

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

Although I think 'No Excuses' was even used in a car commercial, at the time nothing on this album sounded cliche - non of the rap metal bands were even masturbating yet. There are seven tracks and a couple are so so - but it is still a very worthy entry into AIC's catalogue.

7.5 out of 10

10. Alice in Chains - dirt

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

I remember at first not liking this album as much as Facelift, but after talking to my buddy Chad I listened to it again - and I was in after that listen. This album is more than a wall of sound, it's four walls of sound. 'Them Bones' sounds like it is played in reverse.

9.5 out of 10

9. Alice in Chains - sap

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

This was an interesting follow up to Facelift, an acoustic e.p. - a move they would later repeat. It has five tracks, one untitled throw away at the end - but the four other tracks are pretty good, especially Right Turn which features Mark Arm and Chris Cornell. Interesting but not amazing.

6.5 out of 10

8. Alice in Chains - facelift

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

As you can tell by now my first genre is grunge, and I have a lot. I remeber when this came out in 1990 - I had also picked up Jane's Addiction Ritual. I have to say this album has not lost any of it's effect on me - it is still great, a gem 'buried in my shit'.

8 out of 10

7. Afghan Whigs - 1965

7.AW1965,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

From the opener "Somethin' Hot" you can tell that this is a more natural progression for the band - when he sings 'I wanna feel everything aboutcha girl' you believe him. The album keeps its stride until the end never becoming formulaic - a great send off.

9 out of 10

6. Afghan Whigs - black love

6.AWblacklove,
originally uploaded by jrd550.

For some reason when I picked this up years ago I listened to it a couple of times and put it down. Listening to it now I can see why. The album isn't bad, it is just sort of flat, overproduced at times. I have albums that I don't 'get' until repeated listens but I don't think this one of them, even though it is from one of my favourite bands.

6 out of 10

5. Afghan Whigs - what jail is like

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originally uploaded by jrd550.

The title track is from Gentleman, which we already knew was great. There are three covers songs - which again, allow the band to reveal more about themselves - and three live tracks, one again of the title track. and I have to say the live tracks are pretty great too especially the cover of "the world is empty without you".

7.5 out of 10