Customer Reviews

Monsoon

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm proud to say i bought this album the day it came out a number of years ago when i was in highschool. after hearing sullivan on the radio i had to have it. it's a true shame these guys didnt make it any more popular than 2 minor hits, sullivan and attention please(from their sophmore label release).

their music is full of fantastic lyrics by Jimmy Newquist, some that take a more serious tone with similarities to some of the Foo Fighters music like sullivan, monsoon, and wallflower, and some that have a sarcastic humor in the style of the Offspring such as necro, psycho, and trio pain. another thing i love about their lyrics is that many of them tell a story, almost in a bruce springsteen type style put to alternative/punk rock, and that's getting harder and harder to find these days with many bands lyrics being based soley on their own personal emotions.

If youre a fan of the Offspring, Green Day, Blink 182, the Foo Fighters, or even Bruce Springsteen, buy this album. they may have been influenced by these bands, but theyre no knock off band, they have a style and originallity all their own. you won't be let down.

This is not Caroline's Spine's first CD, it is their first Nationally released cd. This is almost as good as the first 4 combined, it includes Monsoon from their 1st, self-titled CD. Kind for a day (probably one of Jim's dreams in life), is a giddy song from 2nd cd: ...So Good Afternoon; along with Unglued and Wallflower. Their 3rd cd was Ignore the Ants which included the National hit Sullivan, their 4th cd came shortly before this and includes new acoustic songs and a more professional sounding version of most of the songs on Monsoon. They were then signed with Hollywood Records where they released Monsoon. This is a cd that took over 4 years to compile and one worth the money. All their songs have some meaning behind them, I was disappointed when Jumpship & Hippie Boy were not included, but You & Me makes up for it. After this release came Attention Please where Hollywood Records started becoming a problem, they are currently looking for a new label and just released "Like It Or Not" which includes many songs from their first 4 Anza releases not included on Monsoon. It is published without a label so you need to search for it online before it goes out of print. With Monsoon, Attention Please, and Like It or Not you can own a majority of this bands 7 year history.

Let me start this by saying I'm a music first lyrics later kinda girl. If the music doesn't get me I'm not going to sit around to hear the actual words. That said Caroline's Spine is one the only bands where I feel the words actually tell you more than just what the music already says. Probably 98% of the time a song is what it sounds like after al right. Loud angsty songs usually have loud angst lyrics, soft sweet songs soft sweet lyrics and pained mope rock generally is mopey. I love Caroline's Spine because you can listen to the music and enjoy it and then listen words and have a whole new view on the song.

But I'm getting ahead of myself after all I am still a music first girl. And the music's good, solid guitars, not a solid wall of back breaking guitar (which can be a beautiful thing) but a undulating (pulsing if you will) record. There's a mix of electric and acoustic (mostly electric) ranging from upbeat and slightly jagged to slow and melancholy. It's not at all muddy (although again there's nothing wrong with sludgy rock) and has some nice bits of piercing guitar. And since you might as well consider vocals an instrument when you're not listening to their meaning I'll just go ahead and say Jimmy can stick when it comes to vocals. It's difficult to describe his voice. It's sometimes edged, rangy but always writhing naturally into emotive harmony with the music.

And what does he do with that oh so unthreatening voice? He sings exactly what you wouldn't expect from a cute, sweet looking guy. Don't get me wrong it's one of the most wonderful things to hear an upbeat romp called "You & Me" sung with weaving elastic vocals. You thinks it was sensitive, a light hearted love song? Perhaps. The tale an finished relationship tipped with sadness? Not quite. "yesterday is over, today I gotta deal with how tomorrow might suck. Suck if you don't understand the way it oughta be, it's got a lot to do with me." Sweet bliss that was unexpected. Thankfully the whole disc is littered with these straight faced gems, though there are genuine songs as well Like "Sullivan." However it was the tongue in cheek lyrics so unobtrusively woven into straight forward sounding songs that gained the bulk of my love. Songs like "Trio' Pain," "So Good Afternoon," "Sweet `n' Sour" and the not so subtle "Necro," my first but not my last ode to necrophilia. It's all really very charming.

Ever since I heard Sullivan on the radio, I knew that this album would be awesome. It has a great variety of music in it. It has fast, hard rock songs on the album such as King for a Day. It also has the typical slow acoustic song such as Wallflower. They never should have released that song. There are too many better songs on it that they could have released. I would have to say that the best song on the album is So Good Afternoon. That song has the funniest lyrics and it rocks! Other great songs are You & Me, Trio Plan, and Say It To You. So if you like a good variety of rock, get this.

I just came online to replace my cassette of Monsoon by Caroline's Spine because I wore out the first copy. It's really that good! If you like melodic rock, you will love Spine.

Finally! A good CD that isn't Parental Advisory. This music has a hard edge and lyrics that are far from cliche. The music is eclectic with different themes, styles, etc., etc... on one CD. This group deserves far more recognition than it's getting. I recommend this CD to anybody... there's something on it for everyone.

I've been following these guys since 1994 and they haven't given up. They deserve everything they've worked for all these years. They're songs are in-your-face and heartfelt. Nirvana was the turning point for alternative, Caroline's Spine will return us to hard rock.

Caroline's Spine is the best kept secret in music! Their music is original, inspired, and just sounds great! If they're ever in the area, i definately reccomend going to see them oive though. The two times i've sen them they were better than the band they opened for.

100% of the songs on this album are great. Every single one. Few bands can look themselves in the mirror and make that claim. Monsoon is personally in my top 3 best albums (not just rock) of all time. The songwriting is excellent, the arrangements are perfect, and the mood is stellar.

A decent collection of songs from their independent label recording days. Caroline's Spine is a straight up rock group, and they have fun doing it, but they haven't fully hit their stride with any of these--with some embarrassingly bad lyrics--although, there are some gems hidden on here. Essential for a fan of the band, but if you're merely interested in the group start with _Attention Please_.