SW@ Ticket

In the first Soundtrack #7, which is in the SW@ Ticket archive but was never posted on GOM, I included a revised review of the WWE’s Wreckless Intent album. For the Today.com release, I will omit that review because Chris Benoit ruined the appeal of wrestling for me and I refuse to give the WWE any further support. Congratulations to Dwayne Johnson (a.k.a.: “The Rock”) for getting out while he could. So without further mention of Wreckless Superstars, on to Soundtrack #7.

First up is the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ first #1 album ever: Stadium Arcatium. Weighing in at 2 discs and 28 tracks, I have yet to listen to the full album, so I’ll only deal with the first disc (Jupiter?), which is frickin awesome by itself. The only track on Jupiter I wouldn’t bother with is Torture Me because that’s lyrically and auditorially what it’s like: torture. The rest of the disc is pure artistry, whether the classic Chili Pepper rhymes and Sweet Home Alabama feel of Dani California (a bit recycled, but a good story song), the contrasting lyric/instrumental speed of Snow, the powerful guitar solos in Charlie and She’s Only 18, or the oxymoronic humor of Slow Cheetah. Did I mention Stadium Arcatium is a steal at $17.99 (regular price $24.99) for two discs at the Wherehouse?
Rating: A

And now, a look at Nickelback: For All the Right Reasons. To cut it short, see the Playlist-ism below.
1- Follow You Home: raunchy, gritty, and somehow romantic (classic Nickelback)
== For a similar vibe, see the Silver Side Up album
3- Photograph: Over-played single #1, but still good
4- Animals: Fast, driving, sexy chase-scene music for eloping grunge-metalists
5- Savin’ Me: Over-played single #2, well-written and not yet over-over-played
6- Far Away: Potential OPS #3, soon to be in every formulaic romantic comedy in America
7- Next Contestant: A sort of funny “don’t touch my girl or I’ll fuck you up” song (Lesbians beware as well)
9- If Everyone Cared: A cheesy but well-written utopia anthem
10-Someone That You’re With: Leaving Silver Side Up for status as OPS #4
11-Rockstar: Kid Rock wannabe anthem, written with the lyrical prowess I’ve come to expect from Chad Kroeger
WHAT I LEFT OUT:
2- Fight for All the Wrong Reasons: The epitome of title tracks that suck. It’s too fast and borderline emotionless
8- Side of a Bullet: Read the lyrics, and you get a highly moving poem about the last days of John Wilkes Booth; hear the song (assuming you still want to call it a song when you finish listening to it), and you get an emphysema-fueled yellapalooza with an ugly instrumental that reduces Kroeger’s songwriting to a robotic mess
Rating: I’d say this is a B album For All the Right Reasons.

SW@, out

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