Customer Reviews

Headache Remedy

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

 

 

Victim's Family is one of my all-time favorite bands, hands-down. There's no other band on earth that can mix politics with humor as they can, no other band that chooses to apply their immense talent to such a creative style of music, no other band that sounds so different from everything else yet always sounds like itself. This band has balls, and a true punk-rock spirit, even if their music isn't your everyday punk-rock (thankfully).

This is probably the best-produced, most accessible Victim's Family album, although "accessible" is definitely a relative term when used to describe their music. I tend to like some of their earlier stuff a little better, but this album has no real weak spot. Also, Ralph's singing has improved quite a bit for this album.

As far as the vocals go: You either love them or you hate them. I have many friends who have listened to VF and said "Damn, that band would be cool if they just had better vocals." I completely disagree. In his own way, Ralph is one of the best punk vocalists out there. Nobody screams like Ralph, and few vocalists put themselves out on a limb like he does. Considering that he is not the best vocalist in a traditional sense, I think that takes balls, and exemplifies the "Who gives a *$@# what you think" attitude of the band. If you aren't able to appreciate the vocals immediately, give it some time. The vocals sound "punk," perhaps more so than the majority of punk bands, which is perhaps why I like them so much. But don't worry, I'm not the kind of poseur who thinks music sounds better on scratched vinyl.

Victims Family is a california based power trio. Headache Remedy was the first album of thiers I owned, buying it a couple of years ago. I was very impressed with it and have since ordered all of thier albums. Look, like the other reviewer stated (and was right on the mark in doing so) if you think new Metallica is super awesome and hard or Creed is pure rock and roll---don't get any Victims Family....you would be doing yourself a major disservice when your small feeble mind tells you to take it out of the CD player.
Z

One of the most origional albums and bands I have heard for quite a while. So origional it's really hard to classify, but I suppose you could call it punk. Reminds me a little of Plaid Retina, though it is by no means a copy. I had to listen to it a few times to really appreciate, I think because it is so different from anything I'd heard. If you like new sounds and origional bands, then buy this. If you take what you like from the radio or MTV or think Metallica is hardcore then don't. Your small mind won't be able to handle this. Also the Germ is quite good though I think this is better.

Wow, this is a fantastic band, and I highly recommend buying their albums, but do NOT buy the "factory sealed" ones for $40 bucks if you can get the CD "factory sealed" directly from Alternative Tentacles for $12. Ridiculous.

If my personality was music it would sound just like that. Wobbly bass lines, crunchy guitar riffs and frying pan drums. This is very uneasy music not for sensentive ears. If there is crazier music in this solar system then I haven't heard it.

Yet another classic example of fantastic musicianship ruined by putrid vocals. On this album, I would give the band credit for two things: 1)The music 2)Mixing the vocals far enough in the background that they are not too big of a distraction. While I can appreciate artisically what he is trying to do, these vocals are a major disappointment compared to the rest of the music. And while there are even a few moments where it seems like, if only for a brief second, that he might pull it off, for most of the album he is whailing in and out of key like a drunken David Sardy, and in a theatrical sense that reeks of just a bit too much cheese. Don't get me wrong, I know this music is not the easiest style to sing to, but that's what makes it so much easier to appreciate band like Coinmonster who can pull it off and put together the entire package. All in all though, I would say worth checking out if only for the tight, and occasionally astounding musicianship. Especially for fellow musicians and fans of art/prog rock, funk fusion, punk and prog metal.