Reviews Supplemental

11 May 2015: S
Albums I've already reviewed:
Slipknot/"Vol. 3" (2004)
Spacehog/"Resident Alien" (1995)
Stone Temple Pilots/"Core" (1992)

11 May 2015: Smash Mouth/"Fush Yu Mang" (1997)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/01/julio-and-case-of-missing-son-by-son.html

Very apt name for a band, as it perfectly encapsulates the desires of everyone who listens to their music, re:Steve Harwell.

So here's my question: Did anyone see Walkin' on the Sun in RB3's setlist and say "FUCK YEAH" or some regional variant? Was anyone excited for this song? I mean, yes, it's probably the band's best song. But that really, really doesn't say much. It's one of the choices that's baffling in how just "whatever" it is.

11 May 2015: Swingin' Utters/"Five Lessons Learned" (1998)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/01/julio-and-case-of-missing-not-being.html

The title track was also in THPS2, if it sounds familiar. A great choice for a great game.
This Bastard's Life was the song used in RB3. It's pretty good, but kind of underwhelming after the title track.

The rest is filler. I don't know why punk bands feel the need to have fifteen tracks on their albums when only two are any good.
The last few tracks sound like their parents had already gone to bed so they had to be quiet so as to avoid a spanking.

12 May 2015: T
Albums I've already reviewed:
T.Rex/"Tanx" (1973)
Tears for Fears/"Songs from the Big Chair" (1985)
The Doobie Brothers/"The Captain and Me" (1973)
The Doors/"The Doors" (1967)
The Flaming Lips/"Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" (2002)
The J. Geils Band/"Freeze Frame" (1981)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience/"Electric Ladyland" (1968)
The Police/"Zenyatta Mondatta" (1980)

12 May 2015: The Cure/"Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me" (1987)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/01/julio-and-case-of-missing-giraffe-by.html

This six-minute-long filler track they opened with isn't inspiring me with much confidence for this GODDAMN MOTHERFUCKING BULLSHIT-ASS FUCKING GODDAMN-ASS PIECE OF SHIT-ASS MOTHERFUCKING GODDAMN-ASS PIECE OF SHIT-ASS BULLSHIT-ASS GODDAMN MOTHERFUCKING-ASS PIECE OF SHIT-ASS DOUBLE ALBUM-ASS PIECE OF SHIT
FUCK

Double albums should be outlawed.
I'm done with The Cure forever. For every Friday I'm in Love, they've got about a thousand awful bullshit-ass motherfucking goddamn-ass piece of shit-ass filler-ass track-ass pieces of shit.

12 May 2015: The Raveonettes/"In and Out of Control" (2009)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/01/julio-and-case-of-missing-feeling-good.html

Last Dance is one of those songs that pretty much perfectly represents Rock Band 3 for me (for better or worse), along with Portions for Foxes, Living in America, and Antibodies. Note that only half of those songs are any good.
Songs I'd heard before RB3 aren't really the same. They don't impact the experience for me the way the "new" tracks do.


I hate when music tries to tackle serious topics. I don't listen to music to think about politics or religion or criminal activity. I do not care about your thoughts on rape. I do not think it is possible for me to care less.
How do you jump straight from "save the last dance for me" to "RAPE IS BAD AND ALL RAPISTS SHOULD BE KILLED"? Complete and fucking tonal whiplash for no fucking reason.

Track ten is an awful cacophony of noise.

Not at all what I was expecting, and not in a good way.

13 May 2015: T-Z
Albums I've already reviewed:
The Smiths/"Strangeways, Here We Come" (1987)
The Sounds/"Living in America" (2002)
The Vines/"Highly Evolved" (2002)
The White Stripes/"Elephant" (2003)
The Who/"Sell Out" (1967)
Them Crooked Vultures/"Them Crooked Vultures" (2009)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers/"You're Gonna Get It!" (1978)
Warren Zevon/"Excitable Boy" (1978)
Whitesnake/"1987" (1987)
Yes/"Fragile" (1971)

13 May 2015: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers/"You're Gonna Get It!" (1978)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/01/julio-and-case-of-missing-sense-by_27.html

I was going to do The Sounds's album, but the internet not knowing it exists let me dodge that particular bullet.

Restless is the best song on this album. It's pretty sweet. The album overall is better than I expected, too.

13 May 2015: War/"Why Can't We be Friends?" (1975)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/01/julio-and-case-of-missing-fraudulent.html

Low Rider is absolutely awful, but the rest of the album is pretty neat. The title track in particular is a classic.
Note that this is the second album I've reviewed for the main setlist of RB3 that featured Why Can't We be Friends?.

Join us tomorrow for DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT

14 May 2015: DLC after RB3
Albums I've already reviewed:
A WHOLE FUCKING LOT
Notably, a few full albums were released as DLC after RB3. I've reviewed the following:
John Lennon/"Imagine" (1971)
The Clash/"London Calling" (1979)
Green Day/"Dookie" (1994)
Green Day/"American Idiot" (2004)
Green Day/"21st Century Breakdown" (2009)

Billy Joel and Bon Jovi also got their greatest hits albums in, but fuck that.

14 May 2015: DLC
Week 150: A huge pack from The Doors (done). Notably, if you purchased RB3 within the first week, you could download a three-pack of songs included in this pack. Unfortunately, two of those songs were Riders on the Storm and Light My Fire. Touch Me was great, though.
Week 151: Today's first review
Week 152: Today's second review, plus singles from New Order (not on an album), Talking Heads (no), and Deftones (no).


14 May 2015: Rush/"Signals" (1982)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/01/julio-and-case-of-missing-relevancy-by.html

Only one song was released in week 151 (Subdivisions), which is sort of understandable, but kind of lame at the same time.

Geddy's vocals here seem kind of lethargic. Like he wasn't really trying. Like he didn't give a shit.

14 May 2015: Jon Bon Jovi/"Blaze of Glory" (1990)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/01/julio-and-case-of-missing-well-being-by.html

Despite being the best of the band Bon Jovi, we got a song from the man Bon Jovi. It doesn't really matter, I suppose.

15 May 2015: DLC
Week 153: Both of today's reviews and tomorrow's first review

15 May 2015: The Bee Gees/"Main Course" (1975)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/01/julio-and-case-of-missing-edge-by-edging.html

Country Lanes really captured that country feel when they got a sheep to sing it.

15 May 2015: B.B. King/"Completely Well" (1969)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/02/julio-and-case-of-missing-underwater-by.html

I've always found BB King incredibly boring. Though I've only listened to very small groups, maybe something with more musicians is better.

ah, Main Course. Fanny is one of my favorite songs of all time.

and going back a ways, Chicago II/Chicago is another pretty gr8 album though a bit long I'll admit.
However, the Ballet movement thing and the whole It Better End Soon movement are faaaaaaaaaaaantastic. The classical numbers are really odd and don't fit at all.
Not sure if I can forgive fancy colours getting the only all caps "FILLER" in that review though. There were plenty of other more worthy songs.

Beginning with forty-five seconds of what I assume are chimes (but might be someone putting away the silverware) doesn't help its case. The ending is also pretty bad.
After 25 or 6 to 4, I kind of just put it on autopilot. I definitely could have been paying more attention, and I assume I'd have had more all-caps moments, or even a nonsensical rant comprised almost entirely of words you can't say on television, like in the Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me review.


also it was totally a coincidence that i reviewed a b.b. king album right after he died
i had no clue he was dead until just now
r.i.p.

16 May 2015: DLC
Week 154: John Lennon's full Imagine album (done)
Week 155: Lynyrd Skynyrd (done), Bad Company (done), and today's second review

16 May 2015: Procol Harum/"Procol Harum" (1967)
or if you prefer
16 May 2015: Procol Harum/"A Whiter Shade of Pale" (1967)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/02/julio-and-case-of-missing-duck-by.html

To be honest, I expected something a lot more boring and pretentious.
Like a more lethargic Cream without as much charisma or as good songwriting.

A Whiter Shade of Pale is the best track here, but it's still a pretty good listen, despite everyone already knowing the best song.

16 May 2015: .38 Special/"Wild-Eyed Southern Boys" (1981)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/02/julio-and-case-of-missing-not-duck-by.html

Finally, I get to do this one. I've been wanting to do this for YEARS.

Hold on Loosely is the most famous track here, and it's pretty cool.
Back Alley Sally is pretty much exactly what I want from this band.

Shame about Hittin' and Runnin', which has absolutely nothing to it. It's the song equivalent of drinking water straight from the tap.

17 May 2015: DLC
Today, we'll finish off 2010, and tomorrow, we're onto 2011.

Week 156: Queen (done)
Week 157: Today's first review
Week 158 (Hanukkah): A bunch of foreign language shit (no), John and Yoko (non-album single), and today's second review
Week 159 (the end of 2010): Paul McCartney, with and without Wings (done), a "literally who" (no), and Sushi and the Banshees (NO)

17 May 2015: Billy Joel/"Streetlife Serenade" (1974)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/02/julio-and-case-of-missing-not-snow-by.html

BILLY JOEL HAS DONE IT
AN INSTRUMENTAL THAT DOESN'T ACHIEVE THE "filler" OR "FILLER" RATING
HE IS A GENIUS
ENTERING THE PANTHEON OF THE FEW, THE PROUD
the marines

Unfortunately, the final track is a filler instrumental. Fucking fuck.

17 May 2015: The Caesars/"Paper Tigers" (2005)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/02/julio-and-case-of-missing-awake-by.html

The main song, Jerk it Out, was used in millions of Apple ads around this time. I know the song from SSX 3.

Jerk it Out is great. The rest is generic.

The say the five stages of grief start with denial, then go into anger, but for me, it's the other way around. I was angry as fuck when this happened, but now it's time for the denial. It can't be that bad. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO:

In the spoiler is the original review, for comparison:

Spoiler:

17 May 2015: Foo Fighters/"Sonic Highways" (2014)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/05/julio-and-case-of-missing-decisions-by.html

I've decided that RIGHT FUCKING NOW is the proper time to re-evaluate this shit.

Something from Nothing using Holy Diver's riff is still really fucking jarring. Holy Diver is an incredibly famous song. Why did they rip it off? EVERYONE is going to notice, and it's not something you can get out of your head. All I can think about during this song is Dio. R.I.P.
Why not have the bassline follow the guitar riff exactly? That's common and not jarring as a motherfucker.

The Feast and the Famine would be a lot better if the chorus was almost anything else. I don't like the way Dave pronounces "famine" ("fam-uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnn"). The verses aren't great, either. There's something about this song that I really, really don't like, but I can't place it. I really don't like the main guitar riff, for one.
I actually think the song would be better if it were slower. So I downloaded an MP3 of this shit and popped it into Audacity. I'm right, actually. The vocal melody (verses and chorus!) works a lot better when the tempo is slowed by 25%. Unfortunately, the guitar riff is still absolute garbage. If The Feast and the Famine were 25% slower and had just regular old acoustic guitar chords instead of that Godawful riff, it would be a great song. Shame they made a shit song instead.

Congregation is good, I suppose. But "just as you were" is a shitty line to have be your emphasised, repeated, "catchy" line. The song is also around a minute too long. It should have ended at "STEP IN THE LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT".

What Did I Do?/God as My Witness rips off Runnin' Blue at points. "I stop, ask myself what did I do" sounds just like the "Yeah, back down, turn around slowly, try it again" part. Despite this (or more likely, because of this), What Did I Do?/God as My Witness is the best song on the album. Probably because I love Runnin' Blue.
I'm going to actually say this right now: What Did I Do?/God as My Witness is one of the band's best songs. It's 100% a 10/10. Wait, no. Scratch that. It's a fucking 11/10. I fucking LOVE it. LOVE.
L O V E
O
V
E
I am creating a new rating for this song. The all-caps "ORGASMIC". It's not quite a "cram" or "shoe", but it's above an ordinary "orgasmic".
Also: A YouTube comment from a famous YouTube celebrity (not being facetious for once) told me that it uses the All You Need is Love riff. I can definitely hear that now. Shame it doesn't have the She Loves You reprise.

Outside is really good. I like the effect on Dave's voice; I think it really sells the song. I seriously do not think the song would work without it. Only complaint about this song: It's too long by a minute, minute-and-a-half.

In the Clear really, really reminds me of something, but I can't remember what and it's driving me crazy. There's another song that does almost this exact same thing.
GOT IT
IT'S TAKE IT EASY
LIKE, BY EAGLES
I don't know if anyone else will get what I'm talking about, but the choruses of those two songs have a really similar part.

Subterranean is On the Mend from In Your Honour's second disc rewritten, and it's kind of worse, with a bit of Low (vocals only) thrown in there for kicks. It's okay, I guess.

I am a River is a worse version of Statues or Home. I know I said that exactly last time, but it's fucking TRUE. It's a shitty retread of two great songs, trying to be more "epic" than either of those two by building up. It's fucking stupid. I can't believe five people decided this was good enough to perform. It's a fucking stupid song. It tries to be meaningful, but I have no fucking clue what the fuck he's talking about. It's trying WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too fucking hard to be epic, I cannot stress this enough. It's seven minutes of the same two lines: "is that what you want" and "I, I-IIIIIIIIIIIII, I AM A RIVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR".
This is just complete fucking garbage, and I am not going to stop typing this until the song finally fucking ends its overblown, stupid fucking bullshit.

Cut out The Feast and the Famine and I am a River, and you've got a 4/5. With them, it's a 3/5. They are absolutely awful. At least The  Feast and the Famine can be fixed, though. I am a River is fucking irredeemable.
What Did I Do?/God as My Witness should have ended the album, really. If it had, I might have been able to overlook I am a River.

18 May 2015: DLC
Week 160: Today's first review, and also all of the RB2 bonus tracks again (done/no)
Week 161: Linkin Park (done)
Week 162: Stone Sour (done)
Week 163: David Bowie (done)
Week 164: The Clash's London Calling album (done)
Week 165: Today's second review

18 May 2015: Johnny Cash/"The Fabulous Johnny Cash" (1958)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/02/julio-and-case-of-missing-dramatisation.html

The backing vocals on That's Enough are really jarring. They're not weird, because they're exactly the same as every other song released in the '50s. It's just really out of place next to Johnny Cash's voice.
Don't Bring You Guns to Town is the obvious highlight, and marks the beginning of an upswing. Shame it happens so late.

18 May 2015: Bob Marley/"Natty Dread" (1974)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/02/julio-and-case-of-missing-jump-by-bump.html

Lively Up Yourself isn't a great opener, and it's about two minutes too long.
Really, No Woman, No Cry should have opened the album, or closed it.

19 May 2015: DLC
Week 166: A Valentine's Day pack consisting of Meat Loaf (done), The Human League (done), Stevie Nicks (NO), Bob (no), Lady Antisfdjghafsk (no), Animotion (which isn't on Spotify or YouTube so FUCK IT), and today's first review.
Week 167: Today's second review

19 May 2015: Bonnie Tyler/"Faster Than the Speed of Night" (1983)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/02/julio-and-case-of-missing-vogue-by-rogue.html

Her real name is "Gaynor Hopkins". Ouch.
I don't know why they decided to make her cock-eyed on the album art.
Wait, looking at all these other album covers, either someone is playing a sick joke, or she's got a lazy eye.

This album bursts right out of the gate with a HORRIBLE cover of Have You Ever Seen the Rain?. At first, I thought it would be slow and ballad-like, which would have been interesting, but then it picks up tempo, gains a really annoying piano part, and the vocals sound like Bonnie has been smoking around fifty packs a day for around fifty years.
Luckily, her smoker's rasp works a lot better on the originals. I'm glad someone was there to pick up the ball Meat Loaf dropped.

Okay, wait. Wait wait wait. This album came out in 1983, and has the line "I would do anything for love but I won't do that". What? How? You're three years early. Stop.
Total Eclipse of the Heart would be better if the backing vocalists weren't garbage.

19 May 2015: Pat Benatar/"Precious Time" (1981)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/02/julio-and-case-of-missing-cops-by-cops.html

Her real name is "Patricia Mae Andrzejewski". A change for the better, I'd say. My spell checker apparently doesn't recognise the name "Patricia".

The real reason why I HAD to do this album in particular is that it ends on a cover of the hardest song to cover in the universe: Helter Skelter.
As a recap:
Aerosmith's Helter Skelter: SHIT
Motley Crue's Helter Skelter: EVEN WORSE
U2's Helter Skelter: PRETTY GREAT

Pat tried. I admire and am thankful the trying. It's better than Aerosmith's or Motley Crue's, but not as good as U2's. I still think she honestly tried to keep to the feel of the original, and that is GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME

20 May 2015: DLC
Week 168: Today's first review
Week 169: Death Cab for Cutie (no) and today's second review

20 May 2015: Nine Inch Nails/"Pretty Hate Machine" (1989)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/02/julio-and-case-of-missing-not-snow-by_11.html

nine inch like my

Head Like a Hole would be a lot better if there were, like, a loud heavy guitar or something. The sparseness of the instruments doesn't really mesh well with the whole "HEAD LIKE A HOLE I'D RATHER DIE THAN GIVE YOU CONTROL" thing.
The album needs more instruments in general, really. Or at least more pronounced ones.

20 May 2015: Depeche Mode/"Music for the Masses" (1987)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/02/julio-and-case-of-missing-not-back-pain.html

To my knowledge, my only experience with Depeche Mode is Personal Jesus, which I do not like in the slightest.
Better than I'd imagined. The filler instrumental closer was a nice touch.

21 May 2015: DLC
Week 170: The Police (done), and both of today's reviews

21 May 2015: OK Go/"Of the Blue Colour of the Sky" (2010)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/02/julio-and-case-of-missing-case-of.html

This album took five years to make, which was probably the worst thing for it.
Think about it this way: If we could somehow use pretentiousness as nourishment, the first track alone would solve world hunger.

A pop band got too big for their collective legwear, and tried too hard to be "artsy" to less than stellar results.

21 May 2015: War/"Eric Burdon Declares War" (1970)
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2015/02/julio-and-case-of-missing-cheating-by.html

Three of the five songs on this album are medleys.

The first song has someone rubbing knives together or jangling a length of chain or something, and it's REALLY FUCKING ANNOYING.
Rather than, like, actual songs, this is mostly just story-telling over repetitive music. If you've ever heard George Thorogood's cover of One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer, you know what I'm talking about.