Customer Reviews

International Anthems for the Human Race

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you like smart lyrics and really upbeat music, All Sat united is it, baby!! This CD out and out rocks! Full of sing alonf melodies, driving guitars, catchy keyboards and smooth harmonies, this is the album of the year!!! The edge of parody is great as well. They have a keen sense of the state of mind of most of the people in America, and use that knowledge to poke sometimes gentle, sometimes harsher, fun at life. Buy this CD, and if you are not satisfied, well, whatever!

The music smiles and wags it tail...the lyrics bite. All Star United specializes here in power pop..crisp guitars coupled with catchy melodies. But this is shiny happy pop about the darkness underneath.

Much of the album's themes are aimed at the superficiality of much of life as in the cocktail chitchat of "Worldwide Socialites Unite" ("Worldwide socialites unite, Avoid the dreaded question, The meaning of our lives...") or the various "cool" cliques from generation to generation, including country club A-listers ("When you're so prestigious, it makes you half-religious, in a patriotic sort of way, Our money says we trust but you know it's only just a party slogan we were taught to say..."). A subtle dig at the "Jesus was a Republican" attitude that seems to infect much of evangelicalism? "Superstar" namechecks various "next big things" that have seen their own glamour come and go.

"If We Were Lovers" suggests that if those who call themselves Christians aren't winning converts, maybe it's time to take a hard look in the mirror ("If we were lovers, loving like we say, Oh the ghosts of doubt would crash and burn away...").

The only possible criticism might be that the general sunniness occasionally tends to be too simplistic. "Everything will be alright" seems to suggest that simply following after Jesus' words in the Bible will automatically make everything sunshine and flowers and life just isn't that way. Believing in Jesus gives you a hand to hold...not a "get out of difficulties free" card.

Cut for cut, this is a far above average CD and certainly one for fans of Christian music that thinks a little..and for openminded power pop fans.

This CD is great. They may be classified as a power pop band, but there is too much similarity with punk and ska influences, or even the consistent rattle of the tambourine to limit their sound this way. The important part of their sound is the fantastic lyrics that twine their way through it. Definitely a must-have for any "alternative" Christian music collection.

Do you like power pop? You know, the guitar driven rock with the catchy pop hooks and textured harmonies? Well, if you're like me, you will love All Star United's sophomore effort. It builds on the musical themes of the first record, incorporating a wide vareity of influences. Musical styles range from the head banging opener "Welcome to the Big Rock Show", to the 60s influenced "Theme from Summer" (The Monkees?...remember "Tenderness" from the All Star's debut?) to the Huey Lewis and the News sounding horn section of "Popular Americans" (which includes the great line "We've come to pledge allegiance at the altar of convenience in our wide-leg baggy jeans"). Ian Eskelin, the band's founder and lead singer, is a POP MUSIC GENIUS. He can craft the perfect pop song, complete with fun guitar hooks, slick harmonies, soft keyboard and synth parts, and even the "whooo hooo hooo" vocals in the background. This album has more catchy hooks than a fishing convention at the Great Lakes... I cannot help but smile every time I listen to the album. I bet you will too. The music is entertaining and joyous, the kind of music that's great for the morning drive. The lyrics just might inspire you as well (or at least make you think- All Star loves the art of satire!) Put in this disc and enjoy--let's hear it for good power pop!!

I`ve been a fan since ASU`s first album. When I first heard "Welcome to Our Big Rock Show", I almost dropped the CD. Was All Star losing their touch? No. Listen to the rest of the CD. It`s perfect. And when you`ve listened to the rest of it, got back to track one. It`ll grow on you. All Star has proven they can do no wrong.

All Star United's self-titled first release foretold of great things to come from this band. On their sophomore release, "International Anthems for the Human Race," they do not disappoint. While not as good as their first CD, this one is pretty good in its own right. Songs like the hit "Superstar" and "Thank You, Goodnight" make the CD worthwhile. One question: where the heck did "Welcome to Our Big Rock Show" come from? If All Star wants to do that style, then do it on the entire album, not just on the opening cut. Nevertheless, the rest of the CD conforms to their traditional rock sound. Buy this CD if you are a true fan of Christian rock music.

Everybody's favorite band continues their sucess in the dog-eat-dog world of Christian music with their follow-up to their debut self-titled album. "International Anthems For The Human Race" is one of the best albums of 1998. It's full of happy, energetic songs that'll make your feet dance and fingers snap with glee. It's a must-have album, in my opinion.

All Star United know how to entertain people while expressing real life christian themes, and is exactly what this album is about. It shows an extension of their musical talent and enthusiasm even more than there debut album. This album rocks!! P.S. If you ever get the chance to see these guys live, go for it they Rock!

This, the second album from All Star United, is a superb follow up to one of the best albums of 1997. All of the songs are tight musically, with horns, violins and synthesizers backing up the usual instuments. The choruses on the songs are infectuous, you will find yourself humming them long after you have stopped listening. The lyrics are very deep, with a great mix between spiritual, love and humorous songs. If you only buy one album this spring, this is it!

I think I like and appreciate this CD even more than I did when I got it ten years ago.

First of all, they're fun in a `70s-British-invasion sort of way. The melodies and the harmonies are singable; the guitars are clean, the horns and strings are sharp (in terms of quality, not pitch). An underrated rock instrument is the organ, which they use to subtle effect. Eskelin is a clever lyricist.

I think they're also self-consciously corny and cliché at times, but with a chuckling earnestness. Yes, it's corny to sing lines such as, "If we were lovers/loving like we say/all the ghosts of doubt would crash and burn away," or, "Jesus is my Superstar," or "Love, baby love/this is my theme from summer." But those statements are also true at a basic level. I think they capture both the absurdity and the gravity of life, more specifically, the life of faith.

Or, maybe they're just silly and I'm reading in brilliance that isn't there...