Downer

Downer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 24, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Roadrunner Records
• ASIN: B00004WMXS
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,382 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Flex

2. Bi-Furious

3. Last Time

4. Savior

5. Weed Eater

6. Mud Bath

7. Born Again

8. Speed Teeth

9. Punching Bag

10. Ventilation

11. Curbed

Editorial Reviews

(RR85842)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a review, just an FAQ, August 25, 2004

By 

C. Harris (Simi Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Downer (Audio CD)

Downer broke up probably six months after this record was released. Although Aaron has tried to start other bands since (some involving Jed), as of last time I talked to Aaron (over a year ago) nothing had come together yet.

Sorry for the bad news folks.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I must have fallen asleep!, April 2, 2004

By 

five-6-kilo (DE United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Downer (Audio CD)

Its 2004, and I just now listen to Downer's self titled CD. Im so damn mad at myself for falling asleep while great music drives on by. This CD is without a doubt the best 2001 CD purchased in 2004. J. Scott is one of the best singers of this genre for what reason(s) I dont know. He doesnt have a melodic voice, yet he doesnt scream.. but his vocals come across "heavy". Aaron Silberman is outstanding on guitar, Jed Hathaway rocks on bass, and Tracy Sledge is extremely good at tossin' 'em.

Over the last week, I've listened to this CD 4 times, and each time I like more and more of its little things that make up the whole picture. Other than being angry at myself, I have 2 complaints:
1. Where are they now? I can not find anything about Downer thats recent. Please dont tell me they went the same way as Ultraspank!
2. Who the hell was in a hurry on this CD..the band itself or the producer? Half of the songs border on punk speed. When I like a song as much as I like all of these songs, I hate to see them winding down or finishing at the 2:40 mark!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jaw dropping music, August 18, 2003

By 

Frank Ventosa (Jersey City, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Downer (Audio CD)

I got hooked to the stylings of nu-metal rock only recently, thanks to Godsmack, and scored Downer on the account of their 30-second music clips on a music club's web catalog. I knew that what I was hearing was great rock music but I wasn't prepared for what I was about to hear when I got the CD. Thirty-second clips don't tell exactly how it is, BUT the minute I played the CD, my jaw just dropped to the floor. Downer music has got to be one of the most original sounding rock music I've heard in a long time, which is not short of groundbreaking. Downer, the CD, is beautiful melodically and downright heavy from beginning to end. Topnotch musicianship all the way here with monstrous riffs making every song a WALL OF SOUND. Nevermind if they are not trying to be metal because they are anyways.

The singer is great and can't be compared with a lot of the generic sounding nu-metal singers that are out there today. Not that they are bad but only because John Scott sounds different. Melodically, Downer gives me an '80s new wave feel while the vocals have that new wave spank while keeping it riff heavy from beginning to end. Nevermind if new wave music was opposed to everything we liked about heavy metal during the cold years but a lot of the new wave music then had great melodies to their songs. What is important is that these songs ROCK and rock HARDER. Yup, don't let what I had just written above fool you or discourage you in any way from buying this CD if it is still available because their music is DEFINITELY heavy. And, yup, the mix to Downer is clean, polished and loud, and I think that is what gives it its heaviness. Lyric-wise, the songs take you to darker passages.

The pace and tone of the CD is set by opener "Flex" through "Bi-Furious" and "Last Time", probably the CDs most identifiable track, but it is on tracks "Weed Eater", "Born Again", "Speed Teeth", "Punching Bag" and "Ventilation" that their monstrous, power riffs begin to groove. But the remaining songs are equally powerful with CD closer "Curbed" being one of my favorites along with "Punching Bag". It was not easy to choose a favorite song here, not even after I'd listened to the CD countless of times because they are all beautiful.

The Downer bio on the Roadrunner web says that Downer released it's first self-titled EP and subsequent full-length CD, Wrestling With Jesus in 1997 on the tiny Ammunition label. I checked on the Ammunition label site but no information is available. I think the web is under construction or something. Anyhow, I hope that anyone with information on Downer, whether it is about their previous recordings or current status will write a review here. Sadly, the last Roadrunner update on Downer dates back to 2001.

Get this CD, friends, and you won't regret it as I am still drooling over this CD. WOW! Truly amazing stuff is all I can say.