Music : Soma Holiday

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Great CD - From Start to Finish
This is a great CD. I love the fact that I can listen to it from start to finish.

Rating:

- Could they have meant to call it "Some Holiday?"
"Soma Holiday," huh? Does the title mean the body of an organism and hence an escape from the body? I don't think so. Does it perhaps refer to the Zoroastrian ritual drink? I doubt that. Maybe it's all a typo and the title really should be "Some Holiday," as in a lousy getaway or crummy vacation.

Whatever, it is, here is the recipe.

Meld all the corporate and arena rock clichs that you can think of into each song.
Start every track with an interesting, promising introduction that is soon hammered to death by over-the-top vocals and power chords.
Overproduce the hell out of everything.
Sound like a bunch of other bands.

The artwork and booklet for this CD are pretty nice but they do not prepare one for the banal wash of sound and fury that will emanate from your music system. I have tried on four occasions to make it through even one track here, and I cannot do it. Apparently my experience is not unique: currently more than 110 folks are trying to unload their copies for pennies.

I'm just not sure what others hear in this CD. I need an auditory balm and I think the Rouch Brothers' "Big Load" will correct the imbalances brought about by trying to listen to "Soma Holiday."

Rating:

- Worth Checking Out
I first heard Greenwheel when they were on tour with Hoobastank. I was really impressed with their huge sound, and tremendous stage presence, and was really excited when I got their album. Needless to say I really enjoy most of this cd, even though parts of it took me a lot longer to get into. Tracks like the first two singles, "Shelter" (my favorite), and "Breathe" are instantly catchy and accessible to just about everyone. Many of the others seem to run together and ultimately are somewhat forgettable on initial listens, and it will take some time before you are able to enjoy them as much. This isn't saying however that they aren't any good. Every song here has something great to offer and sound great. Honestly, I don't really understand how everyone on here has decided to compare Greenwheel to Nickelback or Creed. These comparisons make little to no sense for me, as in my opinion the music is MUCH more in the vein of Matchbox 20, which is a bit more complimentary than these other comparisons.

All comparisons aside, this really is a very substantial modern rock release, and just about everyone should be able to find at least one or two tracks that really appeal to you. Check it out!

Rating:

- HOLIDAY THEIR TALKING ABOUT IS SUMMER, 'CAUSE THE CD IS HOT
I agree with all the positive reviews made on this album. I bought this one right after I found out about them in the Spiderman soundtrack. It is like the best thing that could ever happen to rock music in ages. Usually rock radio plays the same old tunes day after day and sometimes year after year, which is a crime to the new and upcoming bands that actually have talent like Greenwheel. absolutely every single track in this record will rock you out of this world. The messages in these tracks are heartfelt and genuine. Greenwheel will not bore you with the same heartbroken "she left me" theme of corporate international rock radio short supply, but in fact invite into a haunting but warm 'in a weird way' circle that should be acknowledged by the masses if their not doing so already.

Rating:

- No dfferent from hundreds of other bands
Why is that just about every vocalist these days tries so hard to sound like the one in Creed or Nickelback (or....)? Evidently they threw out the chapter on originality long ago because that is exactly how most of the vocalists today sound. What happened to creativity? Originality? If I had a band I sure as hell wouldn't want to sound like everyone else!! Oh well, maybe it's just me, but I am REALLY tired of hearing the same old thing hashed and re-hashed over and over and over (and over) again. It got old a long time ago. It's NOT getting any fresher.

SO....if you are looking for a CD that sound EXACTLY like all of the others in your collection get but Greenwheel. If you are looking for something tasteful, original, check out some of these (a variety of styles listed):

ATTICUS FAULT (by far the best CD released in the last 10 years)
30 Seconds To Mars (another INCREDIBLE debut release)
A Perfect Circle (either CD):
The Catherine Wheel - Chrome (but any are good)

Course of Nature - Superkala
Dishwalla - Pet Your Friends
Dust for Life
Flickerstick
Filter - Title of Record (yes, that's the title)
Fuel - Something Like Human
Jettingham
Hoobastank
Live - (any)
Oleander - Unwind
PRIME sth (no not a type-o)
Rubyhourse
Spacehog - (any of their three)
SR-71 - Now You See Inside; Tomorrow
Splender - To Whom It May Concern
Stabbing Westward - (2001)
STIR - Holy Dogs
Tonic - Lemon Parade; Heads On Straight
The Verve Pipe - (any)

All original, all great bands with their own sound. What a concept, huh?

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