Customer Reviews

Giving Birth to a Stone

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Wow. I see this album got 3 1/2 and 4 stars from a couple reviewers. Let's get real. A four star album is a near classic. Something like OK Computer, In Utero, or Aenima earns four stars. Anyone wanting this album thinking your are going to get something reminiscent of Tool should save his or her money. The songs are banal and thin, and the vocalist sounds like he is singing underwater. Sure it's got Justin, and Adam helped out with the artwork, but their collective talents can't save this one. The songs are just re-mixes of the first Peach album. Nothing has changed. If you want an album that reminds you of an early-years Alice in Chains bootleg then buy it, but try to get it used. But if you are searching for something of quality with musical depth and intrinsic lyrics, you'd better keep looking.

It's a really wonderful thing that this album, with publicity from friends and tourmates Tool, got its chance at resurrection. Lyrically, it's as interpersonally insightful as Tool's Undertow, and the vocals work rather well as a sort of breathy alternative to the more melodic voices of other art rockers. The metallic bass lines and heavy drum beats both seem to make the comparisons between this band and Tool at least somewhat fair. Certainly, Peach share their intelligence and good taste.

From the opening track, "Spasm", this CD fights--literally--for your attention. Perhaps the best thing about Giving Birth to a Stone, though, is its odd duality from the outset: it is both lightheartedly enjoyable and easily understood, but it is also very deep and thoughtful and upon only a few listens you'll probably begin to take the lyrics very seriously if you enjoy dissecting song meanings. The King Crimson cover, "Catfood", is a good example of this trait (that King Crimson also embodies), immediately accessible for its ubiquitous bassline and darkly comic lyrics, yet very brooding and frightening upon deeper contemplation.

This CD presents something newer and deeper with each listen. A smart, thoughtful masterpiece, those of us who are latecomers to Peach should be very grateful that this ablum was brought back to the forefront, at least for a while. If you appreciate rock music that is heavy, brooding, and somewhat tongue-in-cheek, check this out.

NOTE: This listing is currently much cheaper than the identical re-release which refers to the same band under the name Peach gb for clarification purposes. Take that into account before you purchase either.

I am a hard-core TOOL fan and have been for about 3 years. I heard about this band a while ago and decided to download the cd. I was very impressed with the instromental parts but the vocals are weak. I guess you start to like it better and better the more you listen to it. I think any TOOL fan would enjoy this cd to a certain extent but its just not something that I would catagorize as great.

First off, there are actually twelve songs on this album, not two, as Amazon currently has listed. That said, I mainly bought this album because I'm a huge fan of Tool, and I wanted to hear what Justin Chancellor's old band from the UK sounded like. I definitely like them. More straight-ahead than Tool, with hard, driving riffs interspersed with some atmospheric breaks and melodies. The only problems I have are that the production is a little weak (the sound quality is a bit flat,) and Peach's vocalist- while he doesn't necessarily have a bad voice- doesn't have much range. Other than that, I recommend picking up a copy, especially for Tool fans. Some of Justin's bass riffs sound like they'd work great in a Tool song... I guess that's why he's playing with them now.

When I first heard Peach, I was unaware that Chancellorwas in it. Even so, they are not the same music, or anything close to TOOL. The only person who would say that is someone who's just jumping on the TOOL bandwagon. Peach is OK, definately in the top 10% of bands, but they aren't that great. Two kinds of people would like them: those that "discovered" TOOL when A Perfect Circle came out with their first CD, and those who could care less about TOOL and just like Peach's style. Definately not music hard-core TOOL fans who see as worthwhile.

Cat food is a cover of a King Crimson song off their album "In the Wake of Poseiden." King Crimson is a pretty big influence on tool (and I think they opened for Tool on the last tour). Check out King Crimson's album "Red" especially (and the newest "Reason to Believe" is pretty heavy as well). On to this album, pretty good, similar musically to Tool in some spots, but completely different as far as the vocals. This is a worthwhile pick-up for Tool fans, but don't be expecting the lost tool album.

I bought this CD because I'm a huge Tool fan. Since Justin Chancellor played in Peach before he joined Tool, I thought I'd give it a shot. I love every single song on this album. I simply love the riffs and the basslines. The lyrics are great, and you'll find som similarities to Tool/A Perfect Circle here (Both bands have covered songs from this album). The gitar is intense and soothing at the same time. I recomend this album for everyone that likes rock/heavy metal, and wants something more than a scream vocal and headbanging (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Well, I was able to find the Peach CD after 2 days ofsearching. Not only am I not all that impressed... the actual music on this CD is great. I'm very pleased with what I got in that respect. The down side to this CD is the singing. I have to admit, I don't know much about the band except that Justin (the bassist) is now a member of Tool and I bought it in hopes that it would be Tool-like since I am jonesing for a new tool release. The singer is terrible. He sings every song in the same monotonous way. Maybe I was expecting Maynard-esque vocals. I don't know. If you're looking to buy a CD to tide you over for Tool, this is adequate at best. If you're desperate to just buy a CD, this is as good as any.

It's a really wonderful thing that this album, with publicity from friends and tourmates Tool, got its chance at resurrection. Lyrically, it's as interpersonally insightful as Tool's Undertow, and the vocals work rather well as a sort of breathy alternative to the more melodic voices of other art rockers. The metallic bass lines and heavy drum beats both seem to make the comparisons between this band and Tool at least somewhat fair. Certainly, Peach share their intelligence and good taste.

From the opening track, "Spasm", this CD fights--literally--for your attention. Perhaps the best thing about Giving Birth to a Stone, though, is its odd duality from the outset: it is both lightheartedly enjoyable and easily understood, but it is also very deep and thoughtful and upon only a few listens you'll probably begin to take the lyrics very seriously if you enjoy dissecting song meanings. The King Crimson cover, "Catfood", is a good example of this trait (that King Crimson also embodies), immediately accessible for its ubiquitous bassline and darkly comic lyrics, yet very brooding and frightening upon deeper contemplation.

This CD presents something newer and deeper with each listen. A smart, thoughtful masterpiece, those of us who are latecomers to Peach should be very grateful that this ablum was brought back to the forefront, at least for a while. If you appreciate rock music that is heavy, brooding, and somewhat tongue-in-cheek, check this out.

NOTE: This listing is a re-released version of the original Giving Birth to a Stone, listed under the artist name Peach (not Peach gb). The original is currently a good deal cheaper than the re-released title, so keep that in mind before you choose to purchase this.

I have to say that like everyone else, I bought this CD after I discovered that there were ties within the band to TOOL. I did, however, buy it before Salival was released. At first listen, it is very difficult to get used to the vocals. They are a bit of a mismatch to the music. However, once you begin to appreciate what the music has to offer, you begin as well to appreciate the vocals, in a strange sort of unexpected way. If you like TOOL, you will probably like Peach. Although there are no similarities vocally, the music is very fitting for the listener with a taste for TOOL.