Customer Reviews

Chill Pill (Reis)

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

 

 

I've read various things about this album -- that it was "deliberately made lousy" to spite David Geffen; that because it was recorded at a time when the band was shopping for a new label "their hearts weren't in it"; that the band has lost it's political edge and the hard-rock fury of earlier days. Perhaps no other album by Warrior Soul has encountered so much criticism.

I will agree with the other reviewers up to a point -- I do consider the punk tracks on this album ("Shock Um Down", "I Want Some") largely unimpressive, lyrically and musically, and they can hardly be compared to the raw brilliance and ferocity of "Wasteland" (Drugs, God and the New Republic) or Space Age Playboys, which is in my opinion perhaps one of the best postmodern punk albums of all time.

Even so, other tracks -- the slower numbers like "Song In Your Mind", "Concrete Frontier" and "Soft" -- still appeal to me. Haunting vocals, hypnotic guitars and an intoxicating, rumbling bass combine with Kory's soft spoke-word speech to cultivate a psychedelic ambience laced with melancholy.

Kory's lyrics are chilling -- no pun intended -- and predominantly sorrowful. The visionary optimism and revolutionary spirit that fueled earlier classics like "We Cry Out" and "Hero" is hardly present on this album, replaced by a dominating mood of skepticism, loss and desperation. I can't think of another song by Warrior Soul that is as achingly beautiful and saddening as "Let Me Go." (In short, those looking to lift their spirits should be encouraged to look elsewhere).

I think that if given time, even those fans of Warrior Soul who were initially disappointed will come to appreciate this album. Even under the circumstances -- major tensions between band members, a disintegrating relationship with the label -- Chill Pill has a hell of a lot more passion and sincerity than the majority of what's on the radio these days.

While not as lyrically masterful as Last Decade, Drugs God, or Salutations, this album came at a time in Warrior Soul's life when the band was looking for a new label. Their heart might not have all been in this one, but it's still a damn good album. Kory and gang will always surprise you. Who would have thought they'd use harmonica and didjeridu (an Australian Aborigine woodwind) on their album? They did. That'll teach you for trying to peg this band! Pick this up.

Word on the street was that Kory Clarke & Co. were so fed-up with Geffen Records' lackluster $upport, that they decided to record two records at once...The "art/experimental" record would go to Geffen to satisfy contractual needs & the "commercial" record would go to any number of major record companies who desperately wanted to sign Warrior Soul. "Chill Pill" is that art/experimental record that was supposedly going to be a bad product and end their relationship with Geffen.

Well...despite a lot of people's opinions that this was W. Soul's worst disc, it's actually very good. As is just about anything that K.C. puts out. The front & back cover feature only Kory Clarke, while the interior has a few shots of the other band members. Was this supposed to be a statement? A foreshadowing of the future? Not sure. But it is HIS band & the guy does what he wants.

The re-issued version has the 10 original tracks with 5 bonus cuts. The live extras are of bad quality but still interesting. And there's some hilarious drunken hijinks by the band members. Definitely worth listening to. At least once. Of the ten studio tracks, "Mars," "Cargos of Doom," "Song in Your Mind" & "Shock Um Down" all really stand-out. As does "High Road," featuring a guest turn on harmonica by Michael Monroe (Hanoi Rocks).

This entire album IS a bit of an art record. And there are many experimental-type sounds running through at least a couple of songs. It gives the record a drugged-out, spacey feel. But that's a good thing. Some of the other tracks are very-much punk in their attitude & feel. And a couple songs just pummel you with an all-out sonic assault.

Many W. Soul fans think that this was Mr. Clarke's weakest effort, but I disagree. It's not weak. It's experimental. It's not disappointing. It's art. And there's a big difference. Whether the band turned in a "sub-par" record on purpose or not doesn't really matter. Because there's enough good material on here to make it a very good record.

First off, anyone who discards this should open their ears and their mind to the masterpiece that their holding in their lives. Thanks! When I first got this record 10 years ago it didn't really seem like that much of a change for this band. A lot of people have complained that the optimism from previous records has been stripped away completely. Well when you try saving the world with 3 brilliant records and nothing happens, Kory gets mad. Theirs a despair on this record that we only caught glimpses of previously that make this one of the most important records in music history, period.Kory always had lyrics and vocal melodies that were sad but the music finally seems to match that fact and the realization that he couldn't change the world from all the political turmoil. How can one listen to songs like Concrete Frontier , Soft or Song in your Mind and not wanna go and blow up the white house? These are some of the best songs this band has written. The musical abilities of each member truly shine here, especially Mark Evans, rest his soul, who had to have been one the best drummers in rock n roll history. Hail Warrior Soul. I wonder if Kory knows how many lives he changed with this record because he certainly changed mine. Buy this record!!!

Am I the only one listening to this garbage? After I bought "Salutations", "Drugs...", and "Space Age" I thought I'd take a shot on this. No kidding there are no good songs on this. Everything is boring and there are no sweet riffs at all. I was waiting for a song to justify my purchase and it never came. I would have rated this 0 but... Wrapup: This album is a complete waste of time. Go listen to Space Age Playboys if you want to rock.

I've read a number of reviews of this album, most of which give it a fair-to-middlin' score/review, and I really cannot agree. When this mongrel rocks-out it really rocks-out ('Shock Um Down' never fails to precipitate a dramatic rise in the volume of the car stereo) but it's the 'trippy', more psychedelic numbers like 'Let Me Go' and 'Soft' which really draw me in (try driving down a lonely freeway late at night with those songs on and then tell me you weren't affected). And if 'Concrete Frontier' is not along-side 'Drugs, God and the New Republic's' title-track as the best song the band have ever done then I've missed something brilliant. In my humble opinion, it's their best album (disagree, if you must).

As Kent Brockman would say, 'And that's my two cents!'.

An album made lousy on purpose to defy the record company, I have very few kind words to say about this. No politics, typos in the song titles... i can't go on.