Search - Living Things :: Ahead of the Lions

Solid, great rock album! Wow!

T. Jagla | 08/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great rock album that I think will have wide appeal. I usually buy an album because I like a song or two and am typically let down by the rest of the tracks. But not with this one! I'm REALLY pleased and rarely this pumped on a new (to me) band. I can actually put this in the CD player and just let it play and listen to every track, instead of skipping to the next song that I like. I enjoyed "Bom Bom Bom" whenever I heard it on the radio and finally got around to picking up the album over a year later. I wish I had bought it sooner. I know this album will be in my frequent listening circulation for years to come -that I won't burn out on it or get tired of it. Why? Because the songs are really well developed, written, played, sung, and produced. I rarely get this pumped on a band. I'm so stoked on them that I'm taking the time to write my first review here on Amazon because 1) I think you'll dig 'em 2) if enough people like The Living Things hopefully they'll stick around and put out future albums as solid as this one.



I hate comparing one band to another band because they of course are not the same, perhaps just similar in one or two small ways -but it may give you a general idea of what they are like. With that said, I'll just say that The Living Things have a rockin' sound and rank up there with some of my personal TOP favorites (who also have an overall rock or even punk sound), for example: Social Distortion, Foo Fighters, Face to Face, U2 (the OLDER stuff), Nirvana, Velvet Revolver.



All the songs are good on the album, but tracks 3, 5, 6, and 9 are the ones that really stand out in my mind: "Bom, Bom, Bom", "God Made Hate", "End Gospel", and "Keep It 'till You Fold". The track sampler on Amazon gives a pretty representation of each of the songs, however it doesn't do track 6, "End Gospel" justice without the energetic, tone-setting guitar and drum intro.

I hope that helps. So, ya, BUY this album."

Nothing subtle about it, but apparently it still eludes some

Neverman | Georgia | 03/13/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I love the review from Marinkovich, who states that he likes "straight ahead bar room/garage rock", then dismisses the songs on Ahead of the Lions because none of them "stand out as anything more than standard garage rock". Apparently there are various degrees and shades of garage rock. I didn't realize garage rock was so complex! He's right in that this music is straight ahead and very in-your-face. As for hundreds of unsigned bands out there with more original music than this... well, that's not really the point, is it? The Living Things aren't about subtlety or even originality. Their message doesn't require it. They make no pretenses about being the next Radiohead. Direct messages work better with direct music. But apparently, this kind of approach still confuses some armchair critics out there. I, for one, find the ferocity in this music refreshing. Another reviewer slagged Green Day's American Idiot in comparison. American Idiot has its place, but this assault against corporate and political status quo sounds much more real and lived in, and the result is a more visceral and immediate call to arms. Bravo to Living Things for saying it in a way that at least some of us can understand!



"

Should come with a health warning

.Richard | england | 05/16/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"first time i heard about the living things was on mtv2 brand spanking new music week and i first caught a glimpse of an band that would make an big impact on the way i percieve music

they had the edge of the stooges and the glam pop rock of T.REX

there single BOM BOM BOM being one of the catchiest singles this year no doubt,

but it's one of the best on the album..along with

"bombs below" "i owe" "god made hate"



the living things fuse together social/political/religous commentry, without preaching and i've long for a new band apart from the pop greenday's american idiot

to make an standing impression in the way they form their lyrics and this band have done both fused together ferocious glam punk rock and political lyrics too truly cermented an classic album and a band that will be spoken about for generations too come



classic artwork, reminds me of tyrannosaurus rex album

"my people were fair now their content to wear stars on their brows"



it's here and it could be the album of the year,"