Customer Reviews

Best Of (Chapter One 1997-2004)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Well, here it is. A bit premature, but Sevendust are releasing their first "Greatest Hits" collection just eight years after releasing their excellent self-titled debut album. But here's the catch: This collection is being put out by TVT, the record company that Sevendust used to call home, until they switched to the Universal imprint, Winedark, this year for their fifth album "Next." Now, you know right off the bat that the band had absolutely no say in this, and that they are probably getting shafted on royalties as well (they obviously left TVT for a reason). I mean, they just released "Next" two months ago. Why interfere with their progress by putting out a "Greatest Hits" package?

If you are a faithful Sevendust listener, you most likely own all of their albums (the material on this only reaches as far as 2003's "Seasons" album), so the only reason to pick this up is for the rare, hard to get bonus tracks. Songs like "Coward" and "Rain" and the covers of "Inner City Blues" and "School's Out" (originally done by Marvin Gaye and Alice Cooper, respectively) are no doubt hard to track down, but by sniffing around a few Sevendust fansites, I found these songs with ease. The Tom Lord-Alge Mix of "Waffle" is nothing too special, as it is basically the same song, with very slight variations that only someone who has heard the song hundreds of times could discern. As for the overall selection, it really doesn't capture Sevendust at their best. Yes, it's all fantastic material, and the classics like "Black," "Denial," "Angel's Son" and "Enemy" are all here, but other singles like "Broken Down," "Licking Cream," "Terminator" and "Live Again" are not only among the band's best work, but definitely show the many sides and dynamics to this group that this collection ignores.

It seems like someone who barely knows this group blindly chose 12 songs to throw in, and then tacked on 4 b-sides to hope it sells. If they really wanted to sweeten the deal, how about a bonus DVD with the videos that have come out since "Retrospect" or some live material (which is where this group really shines). I'm usually not a critic of "Greatest Hits" albums, as they rarely please everyone anyways, but this is an exception. TVT obviously put this album to cash in on Sevendust's past successes, and it's really a lazy job at that. I love the band, I respect these guys so much for what they do. They work harder than most bands, and they deserve a "Greatest Hits" package, but this just doesn't do them justice. Plus, if it ain't supporting the band, why fatten someone else's wallet by purchasing material you already own?

First off, let me say that I am a big fan of Sevendust and the majority of the material found here is great. But the problem is, the music isn't the point of this release. The reason for this disc is greed. Recently TVT records and the band have, as you doubtlessly already know, parted ways. And it wasn't on what one would call, friendly terms. As such, the former felt it appropriate to milk the Sevendust cow to the point of death with this release. And even that wouldn't be so bad if they hadn't so clearly only chosen songs that were played on the radio (there's a difference between a "Greatest Hits" and a "Best of" compilation), though, admittedly, the songs here are good. And of course, to sucker consumers like me into purchasing this utterly unnecessary collection, TVT has included the token "bonus tracks." Okay, I'll be the first to admit that these songs are good, with the exception of "Coward" which sounds a little too much like another song from "Seasons" and showcases lyrics that are, to put it politely, pretty stupid. On the other hand, "Rain" is arguably the high point of the extra material, though the two covers nicely display the band's more eclectic yet distinctive side. But with only four "new" songs, it is hardly worth the time. If TVT really understood their demographic, they could have used more. Where are "Fall" and "Corrected"? Where is "Number One (The Ballad)"? Or how about their underrated cover "Goin' Back to Cali"? Or the superb "Leech"? Perhaps if TVT had opted to issue a b-sides and rarities collection instead of this, my rating (and opinion of them in general) would be slightly higher. Unfortunately, that is not the case. What we are left with is a sensation of unpleasant familiarity provided by corporate heads with an itch for more cash. In this sense, one can say that I'm not rating the music, but rather the principle behind this release. And by all means I am. Because, as I said before, the music is not the focus here; the money is.

The Good
This compilation is arraigned chronologically from the group's debut self-titled album to their last studio release Seasons. The thunderous riffs and driving digital effects of "Black" is what introduced Sevendust to the rock lexicon. From there it was full speed ahead. "Bitch" switches things up with a mix of clean arpeggios mixed with balls-to-the-wall riffage. "Denial" displays Sevendust's transition into a more melodic sound. The group still manages to keep it heavy on "Assdrop." Lajon Witherspoon's vocal ability shines as he abandons the shouting for calming, pleasing, and melodic tones on the touching ballad "Angel's Son."

Don't mistake Sevendust's one ballad for them going soft on you. "Praise" hits you right in the teeth with plenty of punch, and a catchy, anthemic chorus. "Enemy" is the best representation of the group today. It's a perfect blend of their early intensity and their current melodic flair. There are 12 hits in all, and four bonus tracks. "Coward" and "Rain" are B-sides from Seasons, and their Marvin Gaye cover of "Inner City Blues" is from a bonus DVD that was included with that release. "School's Out" is a B-side track from a promo for the first Sevendust album.

The Bad
This CD is clearly TVT's was of cashing in on Sevendust's past success and probably part of letting them out of their contract. I guess the biggest slap in the face is that this collection was released while Sevendust is trying to push their latest album Next. Looking through the booklet it's evident that the band didn't have much to do with this release, and it must suck for them that TVT owns all the rights to their hits. "School's Out" is too different from the original for me. Its signature Sevendust, but the chord rearrangements distances it from the original.

The Verdict
Listening to this collection reminded me just how much I love the intensity and raw power that is Sevendust.

Sevendust is one of the best and most underrated rock bands in the music industry, well, to me that is. In 2006, they released this greatest hits compilation, with a heck of a lot of extra songs on it: Rain, Coward, School's Out, and Inner City Blues. Rain is a great B-side from Seasons, while Coward sounds more like Face to Face from Seasons. I have no comment on the other two, mainly because I haven't heard enough of them to know what they sound like.

The other tracks are some of Sevendust's biggest hits in the 1997-2004 era, with my favorites, Too Close to Hate, and Follow, and some uninteresting singles such as B**ch and Black.

So, Sevendust is a great band, and this Greatest Hits album is a perfect addition to your collection, whether you're a fan of Sevendust or a person who doesn't have any of their CDs. I also recommend Next, Alpha, Chapter VII, and Cold Day Memory.

Rating: 5 stars/5 stars

This is a pretty good representation of their hits, but the last 4 songs of the album could have been replaces by more songs from the albums that this best of is supposed to represent.

After getting this I was shocked by many of the songs that were not on this album, but it is a great review of what this band has done musically. It shows how much range they have had over the years. I would have made it a different title though, maybe "The Bands Picks" or something of that nature. The album is missing alot of key songs that really set them apart from the rest. The album is still a 5 star album because there isn't a bad song on the album and if you like Sevendust, you'll Love this album. It is a listening that you could do over and over again without getting bored with it! I really would love to see them on another tour with Creed though that could never happen now, but when they toured together it was a great show and the two bands complimented eachother so well! Get this album if you don't have it and you will not be disappointed!

Great CD! You can listen to the whole thing over and over again. Great buy!

One of the heaviest heavy metal albums in my collection, this hard-hitting album will take your anger and frustration and channel it out of your head and mouth... Use this album wisely or your excessive head-banging could lead to injury!

I am not a huge Best Of Fan when I own every album, but this collection has a few gems added to the CD, plus, it has the more popular tunes in ones place. Though my favorite songs are not on this CD, that is why I own all of the 7D albums that i do. This is a good addition to your music collection, but I would suggest the Double-Wide Live album first before this, if you like their music, but want to hear a different side of sevendust. They still rock acoustically, and I love their remakes and renditions. This is good for someone that is just getting introduced to Sevendust also, or if you can only take a few CDs, you may as well grab your favorite bands' Greatest Hits sets.

I'm no more a fan of TVT cashing in on Sevendust's success then the next person, but that's no reason to rate this poorly. It is an amazing album, with some of Sevendust's best songs (in my opinion). Give the credit where it's due. Sevendust is an amazing band, so if you're just getting into them (as I was when I bought it) or want to good collection of songs, buy this, not because it's a TVT promotion, but because it's good music.