Customer Reviews

Inertia

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Any album where at least half of the tracks, after the initial listen, make you want to back-up and hear them again, qualifies as something special. This album most definitely is that.
This is fresh and vigorously performed tuneful rock that bridges Matchbox 20 and Linkin Park.
"My Goddess" starts things off with buzzsaw guitars, stuttering vocals and a bounding beat. "Can't Relate" bounces along in the same tempo as Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle", and is just as catchy. "Kickout" out-anthems anything recently written by Rob Thomas. "Lo-Fi" folds into the mix some Beck-like casual loping rhythms that proves nigh irresistible.
What is also nice is that they sound like they're trying to evolve their own sound...an amalgam that may prove to be unique in the future.
This is one of those albums where you know you'll be buying their next one when it comes...

OK, first off, I'm a music fanatic. I listen to just about everything and I rarely come across an album that I can just keep in my CD player for over a week. The Exies major label debut however, just blew me away.

I first heard the single "My Goddess" on an X-Games commercial, went and downloaded it and after playing it on repeat about 10 times, went out and bought the album.

This is rock at its best, its powerful enough to make you want to get up and jump all around to this music, but the ballads on the album are just as powerful, especially the closer "Genius" with its great blend of guitar and strings.

This band was said to be influenced by Stone Temple Pilots and I have to agree, the singer's voice does bare a resemblence to Scott Weiland's but the music is more edgy and sometimes heavier then what you would hear on an STP album. All in all, if you're a fan of rock music, Inertia is a must have. This could easily be the best release of 2003 right here.

Here's a quick rundown of the tracks

1.) My Goddess
- One of the best opening tracks I've ever heard, this sets the tone for the album.
2.) Without
- This one easily sounds like an STP song especially the way he says "I gotta get gone" Great track.
3.) Can't Relate
- Kind of a retro sounding rock song, definitly the feel good song of the album.
4.) Kickout
- A very powerful ballad with teeth.
5.) No Secrets
- Probably the best track on the album next to My Goddess, the chord progression is awesome.
6.) Inertia
- This would be the album's most mellow track, great summertime laid back music.
7.) Creeper Kamikaze
- Beautiful song, the string section is amazing.
8.) Calm and Collapse
- The bass line is sweet, it starts out slow and then builds up
9.) Feeling Lo-Fi
- Remeniscent of an Everclear track, especially the lyrics
10.) Irreversable
- I didn't like this track too much, this would be the one song that feels like album filler and makes it 1 ballad too many.
11.) Genius
- Hands down the best ballad on the album and an absolutly perfect album closer.

I ran out and picked up The Exies' major label debut on the day of release because I was impressed with their first single "My Goddess". Additionally, "Inertia" got favorable reviews from Spin and The Exies were likened to an STP-influenced band. However, upon thoroughly digesting all eleven tracks on the album, I discovered they have everything to do with Collective Soul and little to do with STP. Tracks like "Lo-Fi", "Irreversible", and the title track sound spookily like Collective Soul -- you'll think you walked in on "Blender". I can see how the gravelly vocals might liken Scott Stevens to Scott Weiland, but modern rock veterans will more closely identify his range with that of Daniel Johns from Silverchair. "Creeper Kamikaze" and "Genius" sound like tracks taken from the "Freak Show" and "Neon Ballroom" sessions. With that said, the influences are readily prevalent but not cliche' over the short, 35min span of "Inertia". The hooks are often, guitarwork sharp, but paced just right for a nice quick fix of derivative power pop.

95% of the "rock" bands out there are mediocre. Not too good, not too bad. Basically: nothing special. Sure, they can be catchy, but I need something more than just "catchy."

The Exies' "Inertia" is more than just "catchy." Catchy it is, of course, but there is substance to this band. I had never heard of them until I saw "My Goddess" on MTV2. I instantly took a liking to both the music and the lyrics. Lyrics that I can relate to are a huge plus for me. They reminded me to a certain degree of The Vines, my personal favorite of the new rock bands. So I bought the album and right away I liked it. Sometimes I have to get used to a cd, but not with Inertia.

Scott Stevens serves up a therapeutic dose of self-awareness in his lyrics, which I love in music. This is not really a necessarily feel-good album. For me at least, it inspires self-inquiry.

The Exies' music does remind me of a number of bands. Namely, Sevendust, The Vines, and Stone Temple Pilots, each with their own distinct contrast of soft melody and hard rock. But I feel that The Exies have their own unique identity as a band. Despite recognizing the influences in their music, I'm not thinking, "Oh, that's STP right there....7Dust right there." They sound like...The Exies. There's no confusion.

My favorite tracks are definitely Without, Can't Relate, and Inertia<---so beautiful. But I'm enjoying the entire album. I sincerely think that they rival these new bands like The Vines and The Strokes.

Favorite lyrics from the album:

"My empathy, my apathy stil makes me feel alive. Suffering, suffering is always on my mind" from Can't Relate.

"I'm feeling no meaning without you. I've lost all of myself. I'm searching for a reason without you" from Without.

"This is the time when all things old will pass. Inertia comes around to push me closer than I've ever been when new things will be found. This is the time to let go of the past. Inertia comes around" from Inertia<----probably my favorite.

I highly recommend it!

It's not that The Exies are a bad band, there's just nothing here that completely blows my mind even after repeated listens. They have been making waves in the underground for quite a while partially due to Dean DeLeo's (Stone Temple Pilots) ringing endorsement of the band. They released The Exies in 2000 to lukewarm reception. But now, with Virgin Records on their side, they are primed to ignite mainstream modern rock radio with their brand of semi-catchy, if not completely original, electronica and power chord driven hard rock.

By now, you may or may not have heard the first single "My Goddess," a flashy Linkin Park-lite rocker (minus corny gratuitous rapping). It definitely packs the most punch of all the tracks on the CD, which consists mainly of thick up-tempo hard rockers with Scott Stevens' melodic hoarse Weiland-esque vocals. "Inertia" and "Creeper Kamikaze" are moments on the record that suggest that underneath the surface is a band capable of delivering the goods in the future. However, the bouncy funked-up remake of "Lo-Fi," which originally appeared on The Exies, makes me think twice. How anyone thought the newer version is an improvement over the original is puzzling. The Zeppelin-esque fury that permeated the version on The Exies is toned way down. I've always felt The Exies are one of the more promising of the new modern rock breed. Whether they completely fulfill that promise in the future remains to be seen. For now, Inertia is a modest effort but doesn't quite make them epic in my book....yet.

I got this album after hearing their single "My Goddess", expecting an album with songs of a similar sound. Unfortunately, the only other such song was "Without", which was equally good. The rest of the songs were rather weak. I would recommend just downloading the aforementioned songs.

After listening to older material by the Exies, I realized that they have had a slight change in their style. They are`nt that poppy anymore, which necessarily isn`t a bad thing. An all-round 4 star album. Too few songs and a few "weaker" tracks to rate this as a must have 5 star.

"My Goddess" is a killer song with nice riffs and melodic hard-core hooks.
"Without" is excellent until the chorus comes along,it kinda remindes me of Linkin Park, *hurl*, but they manage to pull it off, because it`s the Exies.
"Can`t Relate" is their pop-rock contribute to this album. Can`t sit still while listening to this one.
"Kickout", power ballad at it`s finest!
"No Secrets", an odd track, but good though.

No need to praise the rest of the CD. I hate the fact that they had to remake "Lo-Fi" into a funky version, what`s wrong with the rock version? Note: If you download this song, you`ll probably get the old version. With slower ballads like "Inertia", "Creeper Kamikaze" and "Genius" they try to slow things down. To be honest, slower ballads is not the Exies`s speciality.

All in all, it`s a good album. The first half of the album is awesome, but the second half is slightly disappointing. A purchase you won`t regret!

Although, I must say.. i like these guys, they are not all the cd description from www.amazon.com makes them out to be... actually, when listening to this cd i was amazed at the often use of voice enhancement (voice box/effects) it kinda saddens me, things like that shouldn't be a huge part of your music unless you wish to become another pop-rock band (read sellouts) like Linkin Park... I feel that the lead singer has an exceptional voice and shouldn't hinder himself with vocal effects, as for the lady writing the review go listen to some hardcore or black metal if you think these guys are "dark rock".... even someone like Cold (13 ways to bleed and selftitled, not year of the spider is much heavier in ideals and thought than these guys...

Find a way to listen to some of the tracks other than Goddess before you buy this CD. Goddess has a very different sound than the rest of the CD so make sure you know what your buying.

I also picked up thier c.d. when i heard "My Goddess" and thought that it was going to have the same tune and rythim kind of thing, but its like 80's soft rock, i mean i regreted that i bought this, what a waste!