Karma and Effect

Seether | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 24, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wind-Up
• ASIN: B00097A5HC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (137 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,087 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #69 in Music > Alternative Rock > American Alternative > Post Grunge
  • #86 in Music > Hard Rock & Metal > Alternative Metal

Track Listings

1. Because of Me

2. Remedy

3. Truth

4. Gift

5. Burrito

6. Given

7. Never Leave

8. World Falls Away

9. Tongue

10. I’m The One

11. Simplest Mistake

12. Diseased

13. Plastic Man

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Seether's follow-up to their promising, moderately successful 2002 debut, Disclaimer, and its spottier, hastily repackaged 2004 sequel, was reportedly beset by fighting with their label--friction that dictated everything from profanity-free lyrics to a title change (the original name was the telling Catering to Cowards.) Yet the band effectively rises above those constraints, if only by largely sticking to Disclaimer's tried-and-true formula of seasoning the generous blasts of angst-metal (such as the raging opener "Because of Me") that are its true stock in trade with more evocative ballads like "The Gift" and "Plastic Man." The latter tracks hearken back to "Broken," singer Shaun Morgan's duet with girlfriend and Evanescence singer Amy Lee, yet find their own restless, emotive substance without her. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

It has been almost 3 years since the group unleashed their debut 'Disclaimer', know South African power trio Seether are set to release 'Karma And Effect'. The first single from the album is 'Remedy'. BMG. 2005. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Seether's Seething Sophmore Album, May 27, 2005

By 

A. Estes (Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Karma and Effect (Audio CD)

Seether's second album, "Karma And Effect" has officially arrived, atfer being put off a bit too long. Around the time they probably should have released the follow-up to 2002's "Disclaimer," they received some late-blooming success, thanks to a re-working of the track "Broken" which featured Evanescence frontwoman (and Seether frontman Shaun Morgan's significant other) Amy Lee on background vocals. Instead of a new album, we got a remixed and repackaged version of "Dislaimer," simply titled "Disclaimer II." Sure, it featured some bonus tracks, but brand new material is what we all wanted, and finally, it has arrived.

Seether seem more than a little annoyed by their success, and as such, haven't altered their sound or style one bit, which unfortunately is a double-edged sword. Regardless, they must be commended for their efforts, as most hard-rock bands that receive success for showing a lighter side tend to soften up in time (we'll forgive Staind however, as their frontman actually found happiness). That's just not the case here. The same group that made "Disclaimer" re-appears on this new album. And yes, I do see the irony in that statement, as there are two new members in the band. All thirteen tracks on "Karma And Effect" sound like they were made just to please Seether's fanbase, and they definitely will. 3/4 of the album is made up of agressive, but infectious, rockers in the same vein as "Gasoline" or "Needles." Sure, there is the catchy radio-fare of "Remedy" and "I'm The One," but other songs, such as the album opener "Because Of Me" and "Burrito" (which apes lyrics from the aformentioned "Needles") will rip up your speakers. For fans of "Driven Under" and "Fine Again," songs like "The Gift," "Never Leave," "Tongue" and "Plastic Man" are perfect successors and are destined to become classics. The main problem, however, with this album is that is just feels too familiar. The stubborn attitude and resistance to change becomes a big problem, as it feels like we are just listening to the same album again. Hell, the album even begins heavy and ends soft, just like it's successor. Some of the riffs are a bit tired, and the lyrical content gets a little redundant as well, as Shaun seems too insistent on taking strikes at the music industry and their record label -- which reportedly instructed him not to swear, to tone down the album cover and change the name, which was originally "Catering To Cowards."

However, with all flaws aside, it's still a solid follow-up, and hopefully it should continue to ride the wave of success that got started last year. Fans of the band would be hard pressed to not find something on here they like, and each of the thirteen tracks could easily be a hit, which is hard to pull off. So the bottom line is, if you liked "Disclaimer" and are hungry for more, "Karma And Effect" will satisfy your appetite.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "I'm sure I will bleed sincerely", November 12, 2006

By 

mwreview "mwreview" (Northern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Karma and Effect (Audio CD)

The reason I bought this CD was for the track "Remedy." It would play often on a local hard rock station and every time I heard it I knew I wanted to check out the CD. I finally jotted down as many lyrics I could and did a search and found Seether. I loved the first two tracks right away but wasn't sure about the rest of the CD. I had recently purchased "One X" by Three Days Grace and had been listening to that constantly for several weeks. I think I immediately compared the two CDs and didn't think "Karma and Effect" measured up. The more I listen to Seether's CD, though, the more I like. The booklet is very creative. The pages are artwork or strange photographs and, in between, are matted, semi-transparent, plastic sheets with the lyrics printed in silver. I thought that was cool at first until I tried to read them. Even with paper underneath, they're difficult to read. Oh well, at least they're trying to be different. There is a photo of the band behind the CD holder. Now for the tracks:

"Because of Me": Awesome opener! Energetic and explosive with catchy hooks and chorus. Like "Remedy," it grabbed me right away and wouldn't let go.
"Remedy": The reason I bought this CD! The verses sound a lot like Nirvana's "Come as You Are" (it almost sounds like Kurt Cobain's singing, too). This track flat out rocks!
"Truth": Slower verses that picks up into a hard rockin', yet catchy chorus. The additional guitar during the final chorus is awesome! Heavier than other tracks here. Becoming one of my favorites.
"The Gift": The beginning offers a slow verse with nice guitar accompaniment followed by an accessible, power chorus. Has almost a country flavor (it's not country, don't worry). It is nice but it does tend to drag. It is 5:34 and sounds every bit that long.
"Burrito": One of the heavier tracks here. It has a very dark sound like Tool.
"Given": This is a more accessible track than "Burrito" but does incorporate some Korn/Ill Nino-like screams.
"Never Leave": A slower, power song that really sticks in my head for better or for worse.

"World Falls Away": Rocker! The guitar accompanying the verses is a highlight. Then some Korn/Ill Nino-like screams to build the intensity. The one line at the end "I'm just like you, just not as cool" (the line throughout the track is "Just not a fool") is so mundane.
"Tongue": The track begins with the line "Well the tongue inside my mouth is not for sale" (uh, OK). Another slower, power song but this one has an excellent chorus.
"I'm the One": Now we're rocking! This may be my favorite on this CD (it's right up there with the first two tracks, anyway). Check out these lyrics: "Here she's coming and she's drunk again / She's only seventeen / Here daddy said `Well that's enough of that come be my little queen' / And now he's touching her wrong again / He's going to give her disease / He never wanted it anyway / He only does as he please / Won't you tell her that I said I'm the one / I couldn't hurt her like everyone / And tell her that I said I'm the one / And I don't deserve her." Killer!
"Simplest Mistake": Another heavy track. Has some bursts of intensity but has a lighter, catchy chorus.
"Diseased": This is a different-sounding track. It has soft, dark, mysterious guitar-work. Like "Burrito," it is very Tool-like.
"Plastic Man": A Kurt Cobain-sounding ballad. I checked the song credits to see if he wrote it as the lyrics are not included in the booklet. He didn't write it. Anyway, it is a gorgeous track with beautiful guitar-work.
Hidden Track: Just some quirky guitar and singing in another language. Not really worth the 5 minute wait.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars insane, May 29, 2005

By 

music dude - See all my reviews

This review is from: Karma and Effect (Audio CD)

Just bought this album today and im pretty shocked at how good it is. People are definately underestimating this band. Seether is an extremely talented young band that could just about challenge any group out there right now. They're style is tough, hard, and raw but also deep and moving at the same time. Their songs arent "ima slap my bitch around all night" or "america sucks". They ALL mean something, and even better they all mean something different. "Remedy" is a crazy good song. No wonder why its the first single. "The Gift", "Never Leave", and "Plastic Man" are all radio-ready and contatin moving and powerful lyrics presented in a lighter but just as powerful tone. And dont worry, "Because of Me", "Burrito", "I'm the One", "World Falls Away", and "Simplest Mistake" ought to satisfy those wanting a little more power. Perhaps the best song on the album (which probobly wont even be released as a single) is "Diseased" which is one of the most haunting songs by any group I can remember. "Karma and Effect" is the best rock album of 2005 so far, possibly the best album of 2005 so far which is funny because NOBODY predicted it to be. It is only after hearing crap like Simple Plan, The Killers, and Yellowcard where you really start to appreciate Seether. The bottom line is that Seether is an extremely promising band, who may have just established themselves as a strong force to be reckoned with in the area of hard-rock with this album. I look foward to listening to this album again and I highly recommend this CD to not only hard-rock fans but to people who might be sick of the mainstream radio.