Customer Reviews

Hellbilly Deluxe 2 (Special Edition)

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I'd have to agree with the previous reviewer that this is not for certain fans. This seems to be more of what I'd hoped it wasn't going to be and that's a sequel to the last album. It seems that the old zombie won't be back any time soon. I think the title "hellbilly delux 2" was a bit misleading. What that says to me is this is going to be back to zombie's old style (super charged album where every song could be used in a soundtrack). The only thing remeniscent of the hellbilly deluxe is the packaging. Sinister Urge is more a sequel than this.

I'd say if you liked his last album or his newer singles included in the greatest hits collections than pick it up (the single "warzone", which I thought was more in line with what I'd love about zombie songs). But if you were expecting like I was truly hellbilly deluxe 2, than I'd download a few of the good ones. That's probably what gets me is that his older albums I could listen over and over again beginning to end. Unfortunately like the last album I think there's only a few worthy tunes. I "was" a HUGE zombie fan and had to pick it up regardless.

I was going to write a lengthy review of this CD and compare it to his other work but, you know what? I changed my mind. I just deleted a whole paragraph of nonsense just to leave you with some simple thoughts:

It's Rob Zombie, he does his thing, and any real fan is glad that he does it.

With 11 tracks your bound to have a few lemons, but Hellbilly Deluxe 2 sounds great, kicks, and RZ rocks in all his quirky, eclectic and gritty glory. I love it.

Let's face it, is anyone really disappointed that Rob Zombie didn't continue to explore the musical direction of "Educated Horses"?

Tongue-in-cheek ghoul-rock peppered with horror movie quotes is what he has always done best, all the way back to "La Sexorcisto..." with White Zombie, and this is a return in that direction.

What I really like about "Hellbilly 2" though, is listening to the great John 5 play within the Zombie template. He is one of the planet's most talented guitarists, and brings a diverse palate of sounds--metal riffs, country picking, slide guitar, surf licks, feedback squeals, and shredding solos--to Zombie's well-established formula.

If you want evidence of what a producer does without actually knowing, pop this CD and the new Stone Temple Pilots disc in.

Both are awful messes.

As mentioned previously in the reviews, there was no one in the studio to keep the bar high for Rob and the crew on this one.

I've seen him live a bunch times since La Sexorcisto came out.

Unlike a lot of people I really liked Educated Horses.

The songs on this record just never seem to get to where they need to be to like them. Some are so close and then there are the rest of them.

Let's put it this way, during a recent live show with Korn on the Mayhem Festical, they start playing Sick Bubblegum. To distract the crowd from how bad the song is, they had to kick big pink beach balls into the crowd.

Joey Jordison looked completely bored the whole show.

So disappointed Rob.

Rob Zombie has managed to surprise us with each of his solo albums. His last album (Educated Horses) definitely turned a few heads even though it was undeniably Zombie. This time around, Rob has gone back to a raw and less accessible sound, yet somehow it's probably his most unusual album yet. When I listened to Hellbilly Deluxe 2 for the first time I wasn't even sure how much I liked it, with the exception of the 2 songs that were being played on the radio/internet. However, after a few more spins you start to realize that this is very much Rob's style and the songs grow on you quite quickly. The stripped down sound of this record almost makes it have more in common with 1989's Make Them Die Slowly than any other record he's done. The album begins with Jesus Frankenstein, it has a great Halloween feel to it and at first it doesn't sound that far from most of Zombie's past work. Sick Bubblegum is so catchy with its heavy groove and pounding drums. The next song is What, and it's really catchy to. It sounds a lot like it was inspired by Iggy Pop with the punk riffs and the way it sounds like it was recorded in someone's garage. Mars Needs Women starts with an acoustic guitar intro, but eventually kicks into a droney yet fist-pumping concert anthem. Werewolf Baby could probably pass from the last album, and I think the chorus is a lot of fun. Virgin Witch is a heavy and gothic tune that you may have heard in the commercials for the new movie "Salt." Then we have Death And Destiny Inside The Dream Factory, a very strange but driving song that sounds like a demo tape recorded in Rob's basement. Burn is a decent song but probably the least memorable, although I do like the 70's style guitar riff during the bridge. Cease To Exist is another very strange tune, but again it's not very memorable. Werewolf Women Of The S.S. is a lot of fun, it's classic Rob and you gotta love any Zombie tune that starts with a wolf howling. The Man Who Laughs is a decent tune, but it was very surprising to hear a 4-minute drum solo in the middle of a Rob Zombie song.

So there's my review. I definitely don't think that this is one of Rob's stronger albums, but even his weaker stuff is still a lot of fun. My biggest complaint was that he called the album Hellbilly Deluxe 2, which would imply that it sounds like the first Hellbilly album. If there was a Hellbilly 2, it was The Sinister Urge. I would also recommend that if you're going to pick this album up, wait until late September when the deluxe version comes out with more (and supposedly heavier) songs.

First off, this cd rocks. I'll get to the music in a second. I wonder what Rob thinks of his fickle fans. With so many complaining about Educated Horses and screaming for a return to the good old days, Rob does just that by releasing a project very similar in theme and content to Hellbilly Deluxe. Now people are crawling out of the woodwork to complain about how Rob's just rehashing old material. Well, that's what his fans were asking for. Are we dealing with two warring factions within Zombie's fan base or do some people just like to complain no matter what? Someone said he was cooler fifteen years ago. Well no kidding. We've all GROWN UP. Of course the same stuff you liked fifteen years ago isn't quite as cool today. It's because we've all changed. And so has Rob but he did his fans what he thought would be a favor by revisiting some of his old haunts (forgive the pun.)

The songs: hell, they're great. Favorites include: What? (catchiest song), Werewolf Baby (the weak lyrics are blown out of the water by John 5's badass slide guitar), Virgin Witch (great groove and backing vocals), Burn (second best song), Cease to Exist (great dark chorus) and Werewolf Women of the SS (surf or rockabilly? I can't decide.)

Weak spots: Sick Bubble Gum (can't believe this was chosen as a single) and The Dream Factory (kind of jarring but at least it's short.)

On the original Hellbilly Deluxe I routinely skip Call of the Zombie, How to Make A Monster, What Lurks on Channel X and The Beginning of the End. On this CD I sometimes skip Sick Bubble Gum. Overall, that makes the sequel a better overall album in my opinion. Stop whining, stop overanalyzing and just have FUN with this cd. Thanks Rob!

Rob Zombie will entertain and amaze you every time you listen to his music. It is almost like a rock opera gone horror movie gone what?
Will not disappoint, will always recommend.

Sometimes fans crack me up !! It gets to a stage where no matter what an artist does they just can't win. Take Zombie for example, all of his albums have been negaively reviewed upon release (yes,even HELLBILLY DELUXE which fans said was no match on his White Zombie albums) then after a number of years they are classics !!! I openly admit that Educated Houses was a little disappointing to me but I still felt it had some strong moments. Hellbilly Deluxe 2 is quite simply a great Rob Zombie album with Rob doing what he does best ie. Horror-influenced industri-metal. You get what you expect !!!!

Long time Zombie fan, very disappointed in the current release (as well as the past releases). Seems like they are struggling to get back to the success of "Hellbilly Deluxe".

Back in early 1990, I was introduced to a one-of-a-kind band named White Zombie and their new album Make Them Die Slowly. I was instantly hooked on their unique mix of sex, rock n' roll, and horror films. After I basically wore La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1 down to dime size, Zombie and company hit us with the incredibly infectious Astro Creep: 2000 -- Songs of Love, Destruction, and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head. And just as the band was on top, they broke up. Rob then went on to release three solo albums: Hellbilly Deluxe, The Sinister Urge and Educated Horses (the latter strayed away from his trademark style and sound; and between me, a few friends, and some guy named Ralph in Idaho, sold like twelve copies). Now Rob is back with his new album, Hellbilly Deluxe 2, but is it really a "return to form?"

"Jesus Frankenstein" opens the album (only the way Rob Zombie can) with howling wind and spooky guitars that transition into a wall of distortion sludge. Zombie then proclaims "All Hail," and gives way to bumping drums, groovy guitars, and thumping bass lines. So, so far so good right? Well, to be honest, that's about as good as it gets. As soon as the track builds momentum, it loses it just as quickly with these weird acoustic guitar and piano interludes. If the song would have stayed the course, it might have been an alright opener; but with those odd-placed breaks, it feels wonky and totally uninteresting.

The first single and video is for "Sick Bubblegum." Yes, you heard me right, "Sick..BUBBLEGUM!" Okay, before I get into that idiocrasy, let me say that musically the song isn't too bad. The notorious Zombie stomp is in full effect and mixed with a decent enough guitar riff. Now, back to the lyrics. Um yea, what can I say about "Chew it up, Spit it out, Sick bubblegum. Blow it up, Stick it out, Sick bubblegum." Oh, not to mention that it's preceded by four bars of "Rock mutha$#@er, yeah." I mean, I know he was never known for his lyrical genius, but come on...really? Has it come to this?

Songs like "What?" and "Mars Needs Women" really follow suit with average songwriting and uber-cheese. "What?" sounds like Butthole Surfers and The Munsters got together for a groovy, hip shakin' shindig. On the other hand, "Mars Needs Women" has a rather promising opening with its down home southern charm; but to my chagrin, Zombie hits you with the hook, "Mars needs women. Angry red women." Look, I'm cool with gimmicks and all, but this is just ridiculous.

"Virgin Witch," "Burn," and "The Man Who Laughs" are by far the best tracks on the album. The guitars are laced with solid enough grooves, while the bass and drums follow suit. Vocally, Zombie sounds like the Zombie of old by spitting creepy lines and keeping the tracks rolling at a smooth pace. The band mix in some cool keys in "Virgin Witch" that add a great deal of presence to the somewhat monotonous track. There are moments in all three songs when the vocals totally take a back seat and the band just seem to jam. For instance, "The Man Who Laughs" has a three minute drum solo that adds absolutely nothing to the song at all.

After what has been an incredible career, Rob Zombie seems to have completely run out of ideas. I would love to say that Hellbilly Deluxe 2 is a good album, but it just isn't. Unfortunately it's an album that is full of misguided pursuits, fragmented ideas, and lyrical afterthoughts.

OUR RATING
(2.5/5)