"It is hard to describe the way a great album can reach in, grab a hold of your senses, and take you for a mesmerizing ride, but Stir's second Capitol release does just that. Sure the band has added some electronic touches and ambience, but I feel these touches show a certain maturity gained since releasing their self-titled debut. Songs like "Only a Dream" reach in and surround the senses while making you think about some special someone. When music takes you away and sparks memories of your own, then it surely deserves a special nod. Sure, Stir sounds great slowed down, but do they remember how to rock? The powerful beginning of "Superstation" answers this question with a resounding YES! For further examples skip to "Stop Killing Me", the guitar-driven title track, and of course the first single "New Beginning" for more examples of great rock-n-roll. I found it hard to believe that Stir could make a better record than their first release, but was happily surprised with "Holy Dogs". They have certainly raised the bar with this one. How will the band top this release next time? Luckily while we are waiting for the answer to that question, we can enjoy this release again and again."
Stir is AWESOME!
Jay Enyart | 04/06/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These guys are amazing. I just saw them in San Fracisco when they opened for Everclear. I must say I have never been as excited about an opening act as I was when they came on stage. This album is wonderful. The single "New beginning" is a very solid and great song. I highly recommend them."
The best release of 2000...
drew buser | Dupo, IL | 04/02/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"An overstatement? Pick up this CD and you'll see what I mean. This is one of those albums that you start on track 1, sit back and listen to until the whole thing is over. While a lot of "Modern Rock" artists tend to rehash grunge cliches or simply play a new song 10 different ways, Stir's sophomore album breaks new ground on every track. A few are acoustic ballads, some are ballsy rockers, and "Spaceman" is too surreal to put into words...but each one is so well crafted that after a few listens you'll be amazed. Hopefully this will be the CD that brings MTV's attention back to real rock instead of those corny boy bands. If you get a chance to see them live, definately go for it. I caught them last time in St. Louis and it was amazing. Andrew's voice is even better in concert than it is on the CD. I am going out on a limb here...but see if this album doesn't duplicate Matchbox 20's success...one hit single after another."
Not Quite Their Live Show
Joe | 07/14/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Right after seeing Stir amaze me live, I bought the CD on the way out of the concert. They had rocked hard and almost upstaged 3 Doors Down, the headliners. I was excited to listen to the CD. My first disappointment came when the music on the CD didn't have the energy or the electricity of the live show. My second disappointment came with too many unnecesary sound effects crowding the CD. This band that played great hard rock live was messing in Pink Floyd territory. I just didn't understand it. The songs still delivered some worthy hooks, however, and the CD wasn't bad enough to be removed from my CD player immediately. After a while, I started the CD from the third song "Calling Elvis". It's melodic simplicity and yet dynamic muscianship all showed through and made it special. It wasn't hard rock but it was just a great rock song. None of the songs after that clunked out, either, and the melody and muscianship the band has started to stick out. Songs like "New Beginning" and "Holy Dogs" took the harder edge I wanted to see and ran with it. The bands drummer Brad Booker is a find. Even in the more subdued album, he captures and steals most of the CD, "Calling Elvis" especially. After a while the only problem with the album came in the first two tracks. "Superstation" is a laughable Kiss take-off that I don't really like. But if you like Kiss, you will like the song. Climbing the Walls is like Superstation but also melds in a blend of complex and unnecesary sound effects. Still, somewhere between Pink Floyd, Kiss, Led Zepplin, and the Rolling Stones, Stir found a balance not all too much and an original identity. The album is good."