Customer Reviews

Amplifier

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's almost criminal that these guys aren't massive in North America. Primarily due to a limp marketing campaign by Sony with this debut (Amplifier has since amicably split from Sony), Amplifier-Debut is just a monsterous album. Combining equal parts Zeppelin, Sabbath, Floyd, and a dash of Rush, Amplifier comes off as something completely unique. Walls of guitars swell and swoop around the listener to lead them through 10 huge tracks... and that's not all. Along with the main first disc, a second is offered with 4 more tracks... and the song "Glory Electricity" is quite possibly the best b-side ever; it wasn't even on the original release which had 13 songs it.

Pressing "play" and one is immediately assualted with the track "Motorhead". This is "I'm on a mountain, turn it up to 11" space rock without the boredom that that genre is often known for. Sel Balamir's guitar playing is a perfect combination of Gilmour's "emotion through simplicity" stylings and Plant's baddass crunch. But it's Balamir's vocals that makes this band really stand out. No screams, no scratchy yells, just calm, emotive, and thoroughly engaging.

Next "Airborne" reveals the anthemic side of the band, and one of the reasons why their live shows are so incredible. 3:30+ minutes of build-up and then they take it back to a lower level only to thunder to an even higher level once they charge it up a minute later.

"Panzer" showcases the talents of Neil Mahony and his ballsy bass tactics, and Matt Brobin channels Bonham but not to the point of mockery... just in Bonham's gigantic sound.

And then what follows are 7 more songs, each with their own distinctive style and voice, yet wholly Amplifier. There is not a single dud or misfire amongst any of them.

"Neon" is probably the only radio-friendly song on here simply due to it's sub-5 minute length. And how it didn't become one of the largest hits of 2005 is just wierd.

Lyrically the band can be a tad ambigious and often times on the darker side, but they are totally infectious.

Amplifier's Debut is a titanic album in every way. Ambitious, yes. But they totally deliver on ever count. While bands like Wolfmother, Foo Fighters, and Audioslave line the radio waves with complete homage to the point of copyright infringement, create sappy-happy songs that are easily digested and just as easily discarded, or just sound bored out of their skulls while creating music, bands like Amplifier bypass the mainstream to its detriment.

If you like rock, if you like ambition that pays off, if you like crisp production, if you like the idea of a 3-piece band sounding liking a 6-piece, Amplifier's debut album is absolutely for you.

Just when I thought that the future landscape of music was one big, dark, lifeless void of commercialism, I find that I have never been happier to be wrong.

Being a fan of progressive rock and metal, I discovered progarchives.org in August. I saw the usual names, the masters of prog: Rush, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, Renaissance, Focus, Spock's Beard, Opeth, Porcupine Tree, Marillion, etc. Then I found a link to one of many bands that I had never heard of before called Amplifier. So I looked them up on Youtube to get a good feel for their music, and I must have sat for hours listening to song after song.

I don't think I've gone a day now without listening to at least 1 album of theirs, and the album that gets the most play is their debut, Amplifier. The band gets their hooks in you at the beginning of Motorhead all the way through to the end of UFOs. This album is simply refreshing, and is a welcome release from the usual drivel that spews out of most radio stations.

As for the comparisons to Floyd, Tool, Rush, etc., lay them aside. Yes, you can tell that they were influenced by bands like Floyd, but Amplifier deserves to stand on their own. At first when I started listening to them, I couldn't help but liken them to Floyd and Tool, but that view has changed since then. There is no need to liken them to anyone else; they are their own band.

So if you're looking for something fresh to release you from your musical duldrums, then buy this album. The only suggestion that I have is that you by the bonus CD, complete with four extra tracks.

Happy listening!

This is one of those albums that simply rocks. It took me a few listens before I fully got in to it, but honestly.... there aint a bad song on this. It has two songs in particular that reminds me of a Pink Floyd, Post Acid Youth & UFO, the rest is heavier & i dont know who it reminds me of but i know i like it.

The more i listen to this the more I think this record should be listened to by everyone & it should escalate the band into the global domain of anyone wanting new & brilliant tunes.

If you are going to start listening to the band, then start with this album,for me its their best work. I'm converted as fan & can safely say this is one of my favourite records to date....easily in my top 5, & that's a hard thing for me to say.

Have a listen & hope you enjoy is as much as i do.

This album is most certainly in my top-ten favorite of all time, and probably top five.
There are no weak tracks, and some absolute kills that really draw you in.

Any fans of progressive rock, shoegazer, or metal, check out some tracks as it has elements of all of these.
Motorhead, Airborne, Old Movies, Post-acid Youth, One Great Summer, and UFOs are probably my favorite, but all the rest have their strengths.

Their newest album, The Octopus (available for pre-order, with a general release date of late Jan 2011 I believe), is a hugely ambitious work, covering two CDs, even a little darker with several long tracks.

[...]

I agree with all previews reviews.
Amazing CD. Although when the CD player starts and you hear the first sounds you may think "Oh, not another dull Tool, Creed etc. replica".
Wrong! Don't miss this CD. It's a rock masterpiece!
Of course not the style that has never played before, but this album is so easy to listen and so interesting.

I'm sorry, but comparisons to Led Zeppelin, Rush, and Sabbath are a huge stretch.
These guys play a style that was popular in the mid to late 90s, and this disc is from 2005, so it sounds dated.
I think an accurate description would be that they sound like HUM or FILTER, albeit slightly better than those bands; only because they have some moments of prog-tinged passages and then times when there is a TOOL influence detectable (in a good way).
If your into listening to power chord, slick-sounding alt rock, then this Amplifier debut is a solid "3 stars."