Search - Guano Apes :: Planet of the Apes: Best of Guano Apes

Go Ape

Mark E. Kohler | Rochester, NY USA | 03/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I could easily be writing this review about any of the band's albums since this IS a greatest hits collection. Of the band's three albums of original material here's the breakdown: Walking on A Thin Line is by far their strongest and best material. The second disc, Don't Give Me Names is also an exceptionally strong album that you can play from start to finish. Only their first disc, Proud Like A God, has some relative clunkers on it. That disc does have two of their most famous tracks (Lords of the Boards and Open Your Eyes...which was a minor radio success in the U.S. in 1997). Forgive the uneveness of the first disc due to youthful experimentation and an attempt at four very different musical personalities trying to make something they could all agree on. This is an underappreciated and definitely overlooked band in America. Only their first disc is available via a U.S. distribution company. Don't Give Me Name was yanked by RCA in America on the eve of the distribution citing the "don't hear a single" nonsense. Let's not forget that the band, under contract with BMG in the rest of the world, had something like four or five hits of that album in Europe and won Mtv Europe awards etc. So, that's really a bunch of BS. This band was lost in the shuffle of the big companies like RCA having to restructure and clean administrative house. This wasn't "the band" to new execs who had no relationship with them and they were told to try again with the next album. That would be the third and best CD which was hugely successful once again in Germany and certain European markets. But still no release here. How do I know all this? Well, I was a journalist working for a major rock magazine at the time Don't Give Me Names came out and am a big supporter of the band. I have no doubt that if even half the budget being spent on promoting Lacuna Coil (whom I also like, though a very different band) or the crap like Nightwish and Evanescence, Guano Apes would definitely had a solid market over here with several radio hits. They did sell 150,000 units of the first disc here with almost zero press and publicity budget. That means with a little effort, the band could have worked here. I was trying to push this band in that female void after No Doubt basically broke up. The record companies wouldn't hear of it...then suddenly Evanescence breaks and it's a whole different story. Too bad the band was well on its way to breaking up at that point. I flew over to see their farewell tour in Germany in Feb. 2005. Absolutely great people with still more to say as a band musically, but the relationships between Sandra and the band are probably not mendable at this time. Who's to say what could happen if Sandra's new CD (due out later this year 2006) flops, but honestly, I am not expecting it to. She told me personally her album will be a rock album. It will be interesting to see what her vision is. She truly is a dynamic performer with the best female ROCK voice I've ever heard. She is hard to define as she candle most any style, but when she let's it go, she's ferocious! I would love to hear some new guitar music from Henning (guitarist), but nothing is on the horizon seriously at this time.

If you're a fan of early Incubus, Red Hot Chili Peppers with some 80's type melodies infused with seriously rocking riffs spread over with serious female vocals, this is the band for you. They are fun and talented, somewhat twisted and quirky. Think of a much more fun and heavier No Doubt. I have never met anyone I've played them for that said they didn't like them, and that's pretty impressive. Too bad the U.S. record companies dropped the ball on this one. And shame on BMG too for forcing the band to find U.S. distribution deals outside of BMG rather than partnering with Sony (remember the merger a few years back) at the time of the third album to try again in the States with this band...then again...you've got to want it too. A starcrossed band with plenty to still offer. Start with this one and work your way back. Enjoy!"

Top of their Genre, No Question. This one is where to start

retro-man-retro | California | 05/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have nine Guano Apes CD's. This collection certainly has the cream of the crop. I do wish there were just three tunes that would have appeared on this "Best Of" collection, "Heaven", "Storm" & "Sugar Skin". I have an unusually wide spectrum of musical interest. I LOVE "Quality" wherever it may be found. My collection includes, Tapping The Vein, Die Happy & Lacuna Coil. I even like The Lords Of Acid once in awhile. But as of late, Whenever I feel the need for un-leashed raw female power in expression, I reach for this single CD, or better put "CD of Singles". This one Frosts My Cake."

Best "Unknown" band out there

Robert W. Mcnair II | 03/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These guys and (lady)were doing some fantastic work starting in 1996 with "Open Your Eyes", an amazingly intense, uplifting song about facing the little (and BIG)lies we live with and tell ourselves. The greatest hits album does cover a lot of sonic territory. I've heard the Guano Apes described as a heavier version of "No Doubt", and there is some similarity on a few songs ("Open Your Eyes" is unlike ANYTHING else I've heard out there - Queensryche meets Evanescence meets Ice Cube - hehe). So if you like heavier music, this will be a good album. Their debut album, "Proud Like a God", is also very good. The second track there entitled "Maria" is one of my favorite songs, but does NOT appear on the Greatest Hits CD."