Customer Reviews

Army of Anyone

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a massive fan of Stone Temple Pilots I was eager to hear the DeLeo brother's new project, their first album since Stone Temple Pilots underrated swan-song "Shangri-LA DEE DA" (2001). But without Scott Weiland could they make a memorable album? The DeLeo's 1997 Talk Show project (which featured singer Dave Coutts) was good, but hardly up-to-par with STP.

While the DeLeo brother's may have written STP's classic songs and brought the killer riffs and grooves to the table, it was singer Scott Weiland who molded the songs and brought much creativity to eclecticism to the band. STP was more than just one man; it was the chemistry of the DeLeo brothers and Weiland that made Stone Temple Pilots one of the best rock bands from the 1990s.

Without Weiland, the DeLeo brothers have some big shoes to fill...enter Richard Patrick, founder and frontman of Filter, who first hit it big in 1995 with the semi-metal/industrial "Hey Man Nice Shot." Initially written off by some as a second rate Nine Inch Nails (which Patrick was once the lead live guitarist of) Filter proved to be more than a run-of-the-mill, mid-90s one-hit-wonder. Their 1999 hit "Take a Picture" proved to be one of the most memorable singles of the decade, proving Filter to have real staying power.

Robert (bass) and Dean (guitar) DeLeo hooking up with Patrick, all veterans of the 90s grunge and post-grunge era seems like a logical fit. But to be honest, often times super-groups are disappointing (Audioslave anyone?). Fortunately, the fruits of this Stone Temple Pilots/Filter combination are mostly impressive. The DeLeo brothers, Patrick, as well as drummer Ray Luzier (The David Lee Roth band) along with producer Bob Ezrin have made an impressive debut.

Army of Anyone's self-titled debut kicks things off with the hard rocking "Doesn't Seem to Matter," which sounds like vintage Stone Temple Pilots. Patrick's smooth but powerful vocals are well suited for this brand of 90s hard-rock, and one doesn't miss Weiland too to much. The dark and melodic "Goodbye" is another Stone Temple Pilots sounding hard-rocker which is even better than the opening track. The spacey "Generation" offers a change of pace while keeping the momentum going. The album slows down for the glum "A Better Place" followed by "Non Stop," another rocker. Both are good, although a little generic. The stunning "Disappear" one of the album's highlights is somewhat reminiscent of Filter's "Take a Picture." The equally superb Pink Floyd/Bowie-esque "Stop Look and Listen" sounds a bit like Stone Temple Pilots' "Bi-Polar Bear." "Ain't Enough" is another good, if not great middle-of-the-road 90s rocker, that keeps the album moving along. Filter fans will like "Father Figure" which wouldn't have sounded out of place on "Short Bus" (1995). The moody and atmospheric "Leave It" could have been a contender for "Shangri-LA DEE DA." The ending, with its cool psychedelic effects is a high point for the album. The superb melancholy "This Wasn't Supposed to Happen" makes for the perfect closer.

Despite a little filler, Army of Anyone is an excellent debut album. While some of the songs sound a little retro, they are still quite good. But most the songs stay away from merely rehashing the tried-and-true. The DeLeo brothers and Patrick have pushed the envelope and evolved, and when this album sounds good, it sounds VERY good. This is more than just a "super group" that looks good on paper; this band really works. Fans hungry for a good guitar-rock oriented album wont be let down by Dean Deleo's solid playing. Producer Bob Ezrin's dark but crisp production is exactly what these songs call for. Fans of STP, Filter and rock in general should definitely check this album out.

When you put 90's alternative-rock heavyweights Robert & Dean DeLeo (of Stone Temple Pilots) together with an instantly recognizable voice from a charismatic frontman in Richard Patrick (of Filter), obviously you will yield interesting results. Even if Army Of Anyone's debut (as produced by Bob Ezrin) treads familiar territory, one cannot deny it's power and instant likeability. For those mourning the long-gone glory days of Stone Temple Pilots and Filter, Army Of Anyone offers a glimmer of hope.

Sounds Like: Exactly what you had expected.

The Good:
- Who doesn't like the DeLeo brothers? These guys are just awesome and always turn out awesome melodies and hooks.
- Patrick's voice hasn't weakened with age, and the songwriting has only improved.
- With the first listen, you'll know if you like it or not.

The Bad:
- It sounds too much at times as if Richard Patrick singing over leftover Stone Temple Pilots material.

Hits: "It Doesn't Seem To Matter," "Disappear," "Goodbye," "Ain't Enough," "Leave It" and "A Better Place" -- which serves as the genesis of the band -- all perfectly fuse the Filter and STP sounds together. "Father Figure," however, sounds like another beast (and serves as my personal favorite).

Misses: "Non-Stop" is just annoying.

Future: Radio will love Army Of Anyone, and so will just about anyone who followed these guys in the previous decade. It's just a hard album not to like.

Personally: Army Of Anyone don't "do it for me" like Velvet Revolver and (especially) Audioslave do, but their debut is an excellent start and something everyone should look into.

Best Listened To When: You yearn for something that sounds like Stone Temple Pilots, but isn't just a rip-off -- like so many bands these days.

If you're considering this album, you're either an STP fan or a Filter fan looking for those sounds you miss. Good news STP fans: all the classic guitar/bass interplay and chord changes are there from the DeLeos--this could easily have been an STP or even Talk Show album.

It takes some getting used to, hearing Patrick's voice instead of Weiland, but that doesn't last long. He sounds great; he sounds, like... well, him.

Filter fans seeking that industrial, mechanized sound might be disappointed but perhaps not, since Filter was moving in a more melodic, arragned direction anyway.

There are some absolutely killer songs here. The production is fantastic (not as dirty as Brendan O'Brien's). The drummer absolutely smokes. This CD is worth it for the first five songs alone.

So if, like me, you missed the guitar/bass heroics of the DeLeo brothers, this is your prayer answered.

Out of the three "supergroups" of late, this is easily the best.

Audioslave: totally disappointing
Velvet Revolver: 1/3 of that record is good
Army of Anyone: winnah!

Phew. It's nice to hear some inventive guitar playing again.

This album is flat out the best album I've heard in years.

This band features Richard Patrick from Filter, Robert and Dean Deleo from Stone Temple Pilots, and Ray Luzier from the David Lee Roth band.

This is one of the few Supergroups that have lived up to their potential.

Every song on this album is a gem!

1. It Doesn't Seem to Matter - Great opener, will be stuck in your head for hours. Sets the pace of the album successfully.

2. Goodbye - The Lead single. Probably the most well rounded rocker on the album.

3. Generation - Great song. Great instrumentation on this song. Pretty hard song. Catchy.

4. A Better Place - The first slow song on the album. Its a really great song and the vocals harmonize beautifully.

5. Non Stop - The hardest song up until now. Has a very political message. You'll want to listen to this one over and over.

6. Disappear - A good midtempo song. Very catchy. Maybe single material.

7. Stop, Look and Listen - Possibly the most beautiful song on the album. Great lyrics and amazing vocals. Probably the best all around slow song on the album.

8. Ain't Enough - Brings the tempo back up. Good song, the instrumentation is excellent here.

9. Father Figure - A song that sounds just like a Filter song with a Dean Deleo solo thrown in the middle. Amazing song!

10. Leave It - A good rocker that showcases the entire band (Especially drummer Ray Luzier)

11. This Wasn't Supposed to Happen - This rivals "Stop, Look, and Listen" for the most beautiful song on the album. Quite possibly the perfect closing song.

If you like rock music, BUY THIS ALBUM!

I could tell something very good was happening here upon my first listen but it took me listening to this CD 5 times over a 3 week period to begin to appreciate it fully. I didn't care for Velvet Relvover. I found them to sound like rehashed STP and GNR. This on the other hand is quite different. The arrangements are complex with new sounds and exceptional lyrics. All these men sound as if they've grown as better musicians. I just find this CD an amazing result of what truly talented, experienced musicians can do when they apply themselves to raise the bar for themselves. I can just hear the effort of this band conciously pushing themselves to perform at a higher level than they've done before. Intricate, complex and attention to detail shows and I for one appreciate that beyond words. The drum work on the last half of Goodbye is simply amazing. Neil peart level amazing. The complexity of the songs insure years of enjoyment but may require more initial listening for full appreciation. This is not just a band of popular names out to score a few million on a quick ride of reputations. These fellows have really laid down some quality music. This one is a very serious keeper.

I normally don't give reviews but after reading some of the reviews, I thought I might be able to help someone who is objective yet unsure whether or not to buy the CD. I highly recommend that you get it. Forget the past and who played with which group. That may only confuse you and maybe disappoint you, if you are looking for a continuation of something that is no more. I also think it is highly unfair to start off making too many comparisons. I think Army of Anyone should be judged on their own unique merits and talent and originality. Having said that, they do not sound like any other group that is out there right now!! I was not the hugest Filter fan, though I liked a handful of their songs. I personally think this is the BEST singing and melodic creativity voiced by Richard Patrick. I mean, his voice on top of the musical genius of the De Leo brothers is a really magical fit. I think Richard has been given an opportunity to really showcase his vocal talent and creativity. Two thumbs up! He can only keep on getting better as the group keeps writing music, as far as I am concerned, and he seems to be at the top of his game right now. As for the De Leo brothers, they have not lost anything. I think some of the songs are some of the (can I use the word) prettiest music and melodies they've written. I hope this group stays together, continues to grow, and explores new territory together. I think their music will only get better with each new CD. I liked pretty much every song on the CD and have listened to it several times since I bought it last night. It gets better with each listening. I think it's a great CD. It does not exactly "wow" you or hit the ball out of the park overall (some of the songs do though). The potential is totally there, though, and I anticipate that the next CD will be even stronger, better, more creative, and will totally "wow" listeners. In other words, it was a great first effort...and I think they will only get better. Also, Ray Luzier is a great fit too.

As for the whole super group comments, I would like to say that every band should be judged as a whole rather than the parts that make up the sum. I loved STP. I love Army of Anyone. I was not a huge GNR fan (I've never though that Slash is a great songwriter). I do not think that Velvet Revolver is great. A few songs are good but not great. I loved Rage Against the Machine. I loved Soundgarden. I do not care for Audio Slave. In fact, I turn to another radio station if I hear their songs.

Give Army of Anyone a chance - not b/c you like Filter or b/c you like STP. It's not Filter and it's not STP. It's Army of Anyone, a band that is unique and musically creative and talented and hopefully will be around for a long, long time!

Most super-groups are super-disappointments. Fans hope that a new super-group will be greater than the sum of their parts, but normally have to settle for something good... but not quite as good as any of the members' previous bands.

Fortunately, Army of Anyone is one super-group that does not disappoint. Army of Anyone is not Filter, and it is not Stone Temple Pilots, although the songs on this album pull elements from both bands. Army of Anyone is a band in its own right, no small accomplishment for a super-group whose members come from such distinctive bands.

This is not, as some may rightly fear given the history of super-groups, Richard Patrick singing Filter melodies over the DeLeo brothers' STP riffs. This band is even more cohesive on their debut album than Audioslave was on theirs.

This is an album full of memorable melodies and solid hooks. The music is rich and intelligently written. The ballads will sweep you off your feet, and even the heaviest of the rockers show surprising depth. This is the kind of album that won't leave your CD player for quite some time.

Army of Anyone, the result of Filter's Richard Patrick, Robert and Dean DeLeo of STP, and David Lee Roth's drummer, Ray Luzier forming. This is an excellent debut album, and well worth the wait. Rich's voice sounds fantastic, and the music is great. From edgy to soft music, the genre of music varies quite a bit, never leaving you bored. I strongly recommend picking up one of the best rock albums to come out this year from a bunch of very talented men.

THE BAND: Richard Patrick (vocals), Dean DeLeo (guitar), Robert DeLeo (bass), Ray Luzier (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (2006) 11 tracks clocking in at 46+ minutes. Included with the disc is a 6-page booklet containing song titles/credits, song lyrics, 2 galaxy photos (no band pictures), and thank you's. Produced by long timer Bob Ezrin (Kiss, Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd, NIN, Jane's Addiction, Deftones, etc). Label - Firm Music.

COMMENTS: Being a fan of both the Stone Temple Pilots and Filter, I bought this disc on day-1 without hearing a song. I read that singer Patrick was writing material for his next Filter album and by chance asked the DeLeo brothers for some input. End result several days later was a new band. Not sure I understand the name of this group (hidden meaning, inside joke, or just plain stupid), but the disc rocks! Initially, I couldn't get past the first five tracks. The opener "It Doesn't Seem To Matter" is a solid rocker, followed by their first hit "Goodbye" (reaching #3 on the US Mainstream Rock chart)... easily one of the heaviest tunes on the album. "Generation" is melodic with some interesting up and down rhythm guitar work. They slow it down with a soon-to-be acoustic hit "A Better Place". And just when you think Army Of Anyone has mellowed they crank it up heavy drums and bass in "Non Stop". The 2nd half of the album is not quite as good as the first, but it's still typical DeLeo brother song writing. The last highlight is the rocking "Father Figure". Richard Patrick has toned his voice down a bit from his early Filter days (more singing, less screaming). The DeLeo brothers (STP's, Talk Show) are amazing on their respective instruments. And drummer Luzier (David Lee Roth, Tracy G, various rock compilations and instructional DVD's) was an absolute steal. As great as the melodies are here, the drumming stands out - Luzier is acting like he has something to prove (listen to the tail ending of "Goodbye" and perhaps you'll know what I mean). After the disappointing "Talk Show" (1997) with singer Dave Coutts, part of me thought the DeLeo brothers could not do anything without Scott Weiland... this album proved me wrong. One of my favorites from 2006 (4.5 stars).

This is a great, great album. It just flat-out rocks. What a wonderful combination of talented musicians. I've been a fan of STP from the get-go, and always appreciated the combined fantastic effort the Deleo brothers brought to any project. Dean Deleo, the lead guitarist, is an exceptional player and, in my opinion, one of the most underrated guitarists in rock music today. I didn't get into Filter as much, although I did and still do love the song 'Hey Man, Nice Shot'. Patrick is the right vocalist for this band. Sometimes I think he sounds like the lead singer from Oasis, which isn't a bad thing. I'll tell you who I'm really impressed with; that's the drummer, Ray Luzier. Wow, does this guy play tight! He's fantastic! Another amazingly talented musician to come from David Lee Roth's band(s). A little aside here; how much talent can one mediocre lead singer (Roth) surround himself with? Anyway, Luzier is outstanding on the drums and flawlessly keeps everything together. I especially like his semi-solo at the end of 'Goodbye'. My favorite songs on the album are 'It Doesn't Seem To Matter', 'Goodbye', 'Generation', 'Ain't Enough', and 'Leave It'. What a great-sounding band. Forget sounding like STP or Filter; Army Of Anyone is definitely the real deal, and I hope they're around for a long, long time.