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III Sides to Every Story

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Sometimes truly great art just goes unappreciated; whether it is film, literature, or music. The Boston band Extreme's third album "III Sides to Every Story" (1992) stands as the perfect example of something that, because of timing, just flew over the radar of the public's consciousness. Truly a masterpiece (and I don't just throw that word around arbitrarily) "III Sides to Every Story" is one of the finest rock albums that I have ever heard. Equal parts the Beatles, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and the Chili Peppers; "III Sides" is an ambitious concept album that just didn't come out at the right time.

While Extreme's self-titled debut (1989) was decent, it was ultimately just another by-the-numbers, Van Halen-lite 80s rock album. Extreme proved themselves, however, on their classic sophomore release "Pornograffiti," which was far more rocking, well-written, and ambitious than the debut. The album's major single, the acoustic "More than Words" was somewhat of a double-edged sword for the band. While it was a huge hit, going on to become one of the biggest singles of the year, it gave the public the wrong impression of the band. While Extreme was a gifted, hard-rocking eclectic band, encompassing many sounds and styles, "More than Words" gave people the idea that Extreme were light-weights.

Extreme were far from lightweights, however. Lead guitarist Nuno Bettencourt was an up-and-coming virtuoso, the "new Eddie Van Halen" that could rival the original Ed in terms of technique and musicianship. Charismatic frontman Gary Cherone, (a sort of cross between Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Queen's Freddie Mercury) a thoughtful lyricists, proved to be the perfect voice for the band's eclectic style. Paul Geary's intense drumming and Pat Badger's funk-laden bass were several cuts above average, providing an exciting rhythm section and was an electrifying counterpart to Nuno's exhilarating, screeching, guitar work.

As the band went underway to make their third album there was a major shift in rock with the release of Nirvana's groundbreaking "Nevermind" (1991). Nirvana's seminal album changed the entire landscape of popular music, moving youth culture away from AOR melodic-hard rock, to fully embrace alternative rock. Overnight, bands that were extremely (no pun intended) popular were instantly killed off and rendered obsolete. Extreme was unfortunately one of those bands that got left out in the cold during the grunge/alt. rock heyday of the early 90s.

Recorded during the rise of alterative rock, "III Sides" wasn't a response to the public's changing taste, but was just the next step in the evolution of Extreme. While the band's signature sound, a sort of Aerosmith/Van Halen/Zeppelin hybrid with a little bit of funk, is fully intact, "III Sides" saw Extreme reinvent themselves, adding a touch of the theatrical, a touch of Queen into the equation.

"III Sides" is both progressive and retro, and is equal parts 70s, 80s and 90s. It has the theatrical flair of 70s-era Queen with Rush-esque prog rock compositions, the 80s style guitar heroics of vintage Van Halen and the decades signature sing-along lush background harmonies, with a crisp 90s production.

Divided into three sections, "Yours," "Mine," and "The Truth," "III Sides" is a high-art concept album.

The "Yours" section consists of hard-rocking, guitar-heavy songs, and is musically the most Van Halen-esque part of the album. These songs are political, focusing on racism, war and peace, and institutions (wikepedia).

The album slows down considerably, but is no less enthralling, for the "Mine" section, which is less guitar-oriented, and sees the introduction of more keyboards, and experimentation. The songs move away from worldly/political issues all together, dealing with meditative, self-reflecting subjects (wikepedia).

The third and final "the truth" is itself divided into three sections, under the heading "everything under the sun." The three sections here include "rise and shine," "am I ever gonna change," and `who cares." This section of the album can be considered prog rock in terms of format and style, with alternations in time signature and complex intricate arraignments, including a 70-piece orchestra. Lyrically, the themes are more religious and philosophical (wikepedia).

NOTE-I am citing wikepedia as a source because it describes the details of the technical aspects of the album.

YOURS:

The breakneck opening "Warheads," as the title suggests, is about war, and peoples willingness to kill, as Cherone states "hey kid, wanna have some fun, choose a side and here's your gun." The cynical "rest in peace" points out the simplicity and nativity of such cliches as "make love not war" and warns the listener to not take world-affairs and complex global situations lightly. The funk-laded "Politicalamity" discuses governmental institutions and is musically akin to "Pornograffiti's" "lil' Jack Horny." The melodic "Color Me Blind" looks at racism while "Cupid's Dead" examines the media. The closing "Peacemaker Die" explains how people who try to make a difference or strive for world peace are destined to be murdered. A clip from Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech works very nicely.

It should be noted that with the tragedy of 911 still fresh in people's memories and hearts, and with the current turmoil in the middle-east, these songs seem more relevant now than they did back in 1992.

MINE:

The opening waltz, "Seven Sundays" (which features no guitars, only keyboards) is a total change of pace as it is a radical departure from the album's previous songs. The outstanding "Tragic Comic" tells of the protagonist's struggle to be himself on a date. It's very honest with a real sense of humility. It's very Beatles-esque, with the solo sounding as though George Harrison himself had played on the track. "Our Father" looks at family relations, and the feelings of having an absentee father, and asks whether or not family patterns are destined to repeat themselves. "Stop the Word," is a rather morose, depressed plea to not have to deal with life/people/the world. "God isn't Dead?" acts as a prelude to "the truth," as Cherone pleads for the confirmation of God's existence.

THE TRUTH:

The third and final part, "the truth" is musically the most ambitious, with orchestration and is religious/philosophical in theme. Although the subject matter in "the truth" could be interpreted as Judeo-Christian, it encompasses universal themes that could be applied to all faiths.

Epic, beautiful and breathtaking, "Rise n' Shine" sees the dawn of a new day, the optimism and hope that one can strive for. The equally majestic "Am I Ever Gonna Change" asks just that. While Cherone seems frustrated with who he is as a person, he seems to resign himself to destiny, but hopeful that he can strive forward. The closing "Who Cares?" is the album's most pessimistic piece. Wrapping up "the truth," Cherone seems apathetic, yet at the same time extremely frustrated with the futility of life, asking "who cares?" as in, what's the meaning of it all? But as loud as he pleads, perhaps to the listener, perhaps to God, perhaps to himself, he knows that no answer will be forthcoming.

Extreme's "III Sides to Every Story" is many things...epic, ambitious, thoughtful, breathtaking, angry, morose, beautiful...This album is a true masterpiece that deserves to be heard. The fact that this album is out-of-print is as sad as it is appalling. The fact that this album went unnoticed because of the fickle nature of the public is very sad indeed. Still, "III Sides" is available used so it shouldn't be hard to own a copy. Hopefully someday it will be re-issued, preferably with detailed liner notes. As it is, "III Sides" has achieved somewhat of a cult-status.

If you missed "III Sides" the first time around, do yourself a favor and check out this album to see for yourself how brilliant it is.

This album is a journey into the hearts of the artists who created it. Not many artists expose themselves so openly to their fans the way these guys do. Each and every song seems to cry out "Look at me. This is who I am as person. This is how I feel. These are my weaknesses and fears. These are the things that make me angry and sad. This is what frustrates me." As you listen to the album you begin to empathize with the artists, because you probably feel the same way. We all feel a little overwhelmed by the ugliness of the world sometimes. We all want to find something to believe in in the midst of the chaos we live in.

Side I: Yours looks at the world at large. There is war, hypocrasy, racism, violence, and anyone who stands up and tries to change things is usually taken out.

So then Side II: Mine goes all introspective, looking at how a person deals with the chaos of the world in their own mind and heart. Is there answers to be found in Love? Family? Religion? Is there no help from above to guide us through all this mess?

Finally Side III: The truth attempts to answer these questions. Rise n' Shine suggests that there is hope, but it must be sought out. Am I Ever Gonna Change? implies that the solution must come from within, by conquering your own faults and failures a person. It talks of accountability for your own actions. Whether you're good or not is up to you. You can't just let a priest wave his hand and absolve you of your sins with a short chant. Who Cares? is an examination of the loss of hope in a person's life. If nobody really cares then what's the point of going on with anything? This song is offered as a prayer to a God who may or may not be there, or seemingly doesn't care. The prayers is answered in the music though. The beauty of it suggests that God is there and he does care. He has not given up on the world and if the individual will continue to seek him he will be found. Of course this is simply my interpretation. You should listen to it for yourself to find out what it means for you.

A few people have classified this album as Christian-themed. While there is mention of God, and even quotations from the Bible I think it's more an examination of faith in general. The songs discuss the search for God as a possible answer to the trials of life. It is never suggested that Christianity is the answer (though they probably believe it is), rather, they examine the struggles a person has in trying to believe in God and hang onto faith in such a dark world. It should not be thought of as preachy or religious.

Not only does this album tell a story in itelf. It also tells a story in the history of Extreme as a band. This album fits comfortably in between Pornograffitti and Waiting for the Punchline, starting out with riffy hits like Rest in Peace and Warheads as was typical on Pornograffitti, and ending on a sad note with songs about fading hope and growing cynicism which lead perfectly into Waiting for the Punchline, an angry album rife with bitterness and cynicism. This album works as a segue between the previous and next albums.

I remember when III Sides to Every Story came out in September of 1992. "Rest in Peace" was the video MTV were playing and for some reason it didn't take off like "More than Words" or "Hole Hearted". It was even during the grunge period in music history. Perhaps Extreme weren't viewed as grungy enough. They're more rock than grunge anyway. Hard rock I might add. This, their third cd, was by far their best, most consistent and most original. Extreme's lyrics were insightful and perceptive on this cd and the music far surpassed what they had previously achieved. Songs like "Rest in Peace", "Cupid's Dead", "Tragic Comic", "Stop the World" and the three part opus "Rise 'n' Shine", "Am I Ever Going to Change" and "Who Cares?" are some of the best songs they've done. The cd rocks and soothes at the same time. A must have for any rock collector.

Picture this: A few politically-orientated rockers, a few more soul-searching ballads and pop diddys, an orchestra, one of the most talented guitarists of our time, and the technical cohesivness to blend all these elements together. This is III Sides to Every Story, the best work of a damn good, yet oft-overlooked band Extreme.

Warheads, Color Me Blind, Peacemaker Die, Rest in Peace. Full-throttle political rockers such as these make up the 'Yours' section. Stop the World, Our Father, God isn't Dead, Don't Leave me Alone. These introspective tunes round out the 'Mine' section. Everything Under The Sun, however, will simply blow your mind. A mini-rock opera in itself, this orchestra-backed, half-hour, 3 part opus comprises 'The Truth', the final side of the story.

And there you have it. Extreme all but abandons the funk-metal that made Pornograffiti such a success and instead attacks every other style possible, sometimes with mixed results but always done with masterful effort. Listened to in it's entireity, this album is simply amazing, taken in bits and peices, it's pretty uneven, as most concept albums are. The sound is a nice mix of thrash and pomp, but the production, which sometimes falls flat (the vocals are tragically undermixed) keeps this album from being a total masterpeice.

III Sides is Extreme's best work, but only listen to it with an open mind. And do yourself a favor, if you have the option, get the cassette. The CD omits one song worth hearing 'Don't Leave Me Alone'.

Extreme's music will simply never fail to please. They just kept getting better and better over time.

III sides to every story is a great album, probably one of the top 20 albums of the 90's. Cherone, Nuno, and company are back to rock you a third time, with hard hitters like "Peacemaker Die," "Warheads;" not to mention their trademark funk in the form of "Cupid's Dead," or their classic ballad style in the form of "Am I Ever Gonna Change?" and "Tragic Comedy."

Extreme's music gains a new level of depth with their symphonic stylings, as well, which only compliment Nuno Bettencourt's mad guitar skills.

So what's not to love? this is one of the best CDs I've heard in a long, long while.

Examine the above statement. Read it again. Again.
Yes, I believe "Extreme - III Sides to Every Story" is that good . . .
First, I heard the album 12 or 13 years ago. My friend bought the album and it completely blew us away (even as high-school age kids). But I recently purchased the album from Amazon as a tester, of sorts, to see if it's as good as I remembered, or if I needed to remind myself more often how much of a dork I was in high school. Needless to say, there was no reason to chide myself.
Nuno, Gary, Paul and Pat are in top form here -- the lyrics are surprisingly relevant after all this time (Re: "Warheads," "Rest In Peace," and Politicalamity"), the phat sounds of the guitar and bass are kicked in the rear by Paul's perfect playing, and Gary drives the whole thing home with his stern blend of rock vocalizations and smooth, flowing harmonies (in the style of "More Than Words") both with himself and Nuno.
Surprisingly, the messages here are upbeat for any generation or genre, for that matter.
It's pure ear candy for this rock fan to zone out and into this fantastic, great album.

Don't know where to start. Let's put it this way.If I were to pick just one cd to go to some other planet and never see any of my other cd's ever again, this would as sure as hell be the one to bring with me. All that being said, let's carry on. From the first side and song, funky and upbeat "Warheads", passing every single one inbetween, to the last one, to put it minorly, a freakin' masterpiece "Everything Under The Sun",this CD can't stop to amaze me.I've listened this one for like a couple of hundred times, and every time I get blown away by its outstanding quality. Every little piece, a note, noise, piece of lyric, is a class of its own. But if for no other reason, every sane person should buy this one just because of the last song, an over-20 minute epic, orchestral masterpiece, four-dimensional miracle, etc. Lemme stop here. Simply brilliant, inspired, with great vision and imagination. This CD should be on every shelf in line of classics like Beatles, and alikes. Fantastic.

Anyone just looking for a "neat album with cool hits" should keep on looking. Although Extreme does a great job on their third album, both lyrically and instrumentally, and the cool hits are there, it is the album's concept that pushes it to excellence.

Today, the idea of a concept album has sadly been lost. Bands cut their one hit, then surround it with other music they hope won't disappoint their customers. *Pornograffiti*, Extreme's previous album, was their first true concept album -- and the first good one seen in a while from anyone. Now on *III Sides to Every Story* they again choose a theme and write, not a song, but an album about it.

*III Sides* is about growing up. Extreme breaks it down into three parts. First, you hear what your parents and figures of authority have to say about the world. Second, you decide for yourself how you wish to view the world. And finally, the reality of the world steps in, testing both the worldview passed on to you and the one you have chosen. In the end, your life experience will cast the deciding vote on who's right: (a) parents/authority, (b) you, or (c) neither.

Most people would expect to find such a discussion of worldviews to be found in philosophy classes, in religious institutions, in homes -- but definitely not on a rock album.

Many ask, What's more immpressive, that a band discussed such themes or that they discussed them using such great music?

This limits the album. Anyone choosing a favorite song from *III Sides* has missed the point (much as radio stations beat the point out of Pink Floyd's *The Wall* by playing only "Brick in the Wall"). It is the whole of the album that counts, not just one or two songs; it is the discussion put forward that is critical, not the music behind it.

That Extreme chose a theme and examined it so well is applaudable. That they did so and made memorable music doing it is simply icing on the cake.

Extreme released their third album in 1992 as a follow-up to their hugely popular "Pornografitti". Once again they showed their wide range of styles and influences. They divide the album into three sections. The "sides" being "Yours", "Mine" and "The Truth".

They start off the album with a hard and fast hitting tune "Warheads". This is the kind of tune that shows the talents of guitarist, Nuno Bettencourt. Everything he plays is crisp, reminiscent of Queen's Brian May. The lyrics in this song, as with all the others in the "Yours" section has to do with the devastation that war brings, not just to countries, but also to individual relations. "Rest in Peace" tells of how lack of peace brings destruction. "Color Me Blind" brings up the problems of racial tensions. "Peacemaker Die" features the narrator wishing harm to all those who try to bring peace to the world. Every piece in this section features a driving beat, some with a killer horn section and all with the vocal layers that Extreme is known for.

The "Mine" section mellows out a bit. This is a little more personal than the first section. The songs have to do more with one on one relationships that aren't so perfect. Whether it be with a girlfriend (Seven Sundays), a parent (Our Father), the entire planet (Stop the World) or God (God Isn't Dead). The styles range from a `70's style power ballad, think "Beth" by Kiss to a Van Halen sound. It's no wonder that lead singer Gary Cherone ended up with the latter band.

The best part of this album is the final section. This is an epic three part masterpiece titled "Everything Under the Sun". The beginning is an innocent music box playing the theme to the final part of the piece. The piece starts off bleak. It asks the listener to look around and see what's really happening. Is everything as great as it appears? The second section continues on in the same bleak ways asking "Am I Ever Gonna Change". There is finally a bright spot in the finale, "Who Cares". The music is amazing. A cello soloist a la The Beatles and eventually an entire orchestra joins the band. As popular as "Pornografitti" is, I still choose this album as my favorite. If you don't own it and you like Extreme, get this one.

In 1992, if an interviewer had asked who their most influential band had been, chances are that Pat Badger, Nuno Bettencourt, Gary Cherone, and Paul Geary of Extreme would answer with the 70s hard-rock band, Queen. With a flair for the dramatic, and the fluidity of vocals to back it, Cherone ably reproduced the presence that was Freddie Mercury - yet maintained a uniqueness all his own. Mixing one part Brian May and one part Eddie Van Halen, the blazing guitar riffs by Bettencourt set him apart from the pack of late 80s hair-metal, due mainly to his ability to aptly devise melody and funk rhythms throughout his work. Rounding out the quartet, Badger on bass guitar provided a strong undercurrent of sound and Geary was rock-solid in his timing and fill on drums. Based out of Boston, Massachusetts, the band had had some commercial success from their previous albums with "Play with Me" from Extreme I appearing in the movie soundtrack for "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," and "More than Words," from Extreme II: Pornograffitti, being broadcast incessantly over the radio waves. When they released their third album, "III Sides to Every Story," Extreme showed their roots with a concept album. Like Queen in previous years, they decided to create an opus, or story, broken into three sections labeled: "Yours," "Mine," and "The Truth." It was diverse, original, and stunning, and although not as successful as their second album, was masterfully crafted and has been heralded as their finest work to date.

All of the songs on this album aren't just good, they're damn good, but two that will push their way forward are "Peacemaker Die" and "God Isn't Dead?" With the former, strong rhythms and musical hooks are coupled with vocal harmonies distinctive to Extreme's overall sound, and are again reminiscent of Queen. Powerful lyrics with a dash of sound bite from none other than the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech captivate the listener and evoke emotions of loss for such a great man. Although not a fan of musical overdubs, the orchestration of this song is layered and thick with such a good sound, it hardly goes noticed. As in previous albums, they blend smooth vocal patterns with lightning-fast guitar riffs, thumping bass, and crisp rhythms, but this time to produce a chilling view of how the world's leaders do not allow a dissonant voice of reason that is calling for peace to live. In sharp contrast to this, "God Isn't Dead?" starts softly, with just piano and vocals beseeching listeners to help Cherone through his drought of faith and bemoaning his fate in the world. Building throughout the song in an undertone, a full 70-piece orchestra supports the duo, which breaks from their previous album work of just keyboard and synthesizer. This shows a commitment to a full-fledged opus and not just another album. As the flutes, strings, and horns begin their slow, steady crescendo, the corresponding vocals follow to a harsh and hooking abrupt halt. Here, Cherone's passionate fortissimo, "Please tell me God Isn't Dead!" ends the song with the denouement of "I want to know..."where he is accompanied only by piano again. Haunting and beautiful, the song will stick with a person for years on end.

Overall, Extreme's third release shows their extreme (pun intended) versatility and daring, with a mix of hard rock, symphonic orchestrations, and melodic ballads to tempt the soul. Unbelievable vocal harmonies make this a delight to listen to, and the lyrical content is unsurpassed, as the listener will find himself or herself actually paying attention for a much-needed change. This is their best work without a doubt, followed closely by the funk-laced and rock-driven "Pornograffitti" following a close second; and an album highly suggested. It contains many of the band's "trademark" sounds and will most likely not disappoint. But, it is recommended to at pick III Sides up first, for a masterpiece work of music that will keep the listener enthralled for years.