Customer Reviews

Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?

5 star:		(79)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Many music fans consider this to be one of thrash/speed metal's best records. "Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?" is doubtlessly Dave Mustaine's first masterpiece. It is a classic, standard-setting album which is one of the best and most powerful and contagious releases of the 1980's (right up there with Metallica's "Master of Puppets" and Slayer's "Reign In Blood"). The famous album opener, "Wake Up Dead," has a pair of guitar solos, as well as a couple tempo changes, and "The Conjuring" is a catchy song, with fast, propulsive riffs. Next, the title track has more catchy, chugging guitars, several small solos, and an infectious sing-along near the end. "Devil's Island" and "Good Mourning/Black Friday" both have tasty solos (and "Good Mourning" also has a very catchy chorus and almost buzzsaw riffs). From front to back, this C.D. is very memorable and nearly perfect. It's a must own for every thrash and metal collection. The bottom line is, if you like heavy metal, why wouldn't you buy "Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?"? Plus, I strongly recommend getting the remastered version of this C.D. The four remixes at the end aren't anything especially interesting, but, overall, the album's sound quality is MUCH improved.

This is the first cd I listened to out of my set of remasters I purchased. This is the cd that put Megadeth on the map so to speak. Dave Mustaine did a fabulous job on this cd. It just sounds incredible! I remember when this cd first came out when I was 16 and in high school. Someone I knew at school lent me his copy and I thought it was an awesome CD.

The three best tracks are "Wake Up Dead, The Conjuring and Peace Sells." However, actually all the tracks are good. There isn't a bad song on this cd. The 4 bonus tracks are interesting to listen to as well.

The cd booklet includes a new commentary by Dave Mustaine about "Peace Sells But Who's Buying/" It also features some cool photographs of the band in 1986.

Long time and new Megadeth fans will be pleased. I'm glad Dave Mustaine is back to playing in top form. I can't wait until the new Megadeth record "The System Has Failed" comes out on Sept. 14, 2004. I'm also looking forward to seeing them live in the upcoming tour.

The remixed and remastered Megadeth albums released in 2004 aren't your typical cash-ins. They're improvements over the originals: group leader Dave Mustaine did the remixing and remastering himself, making especially significant revisions to the earlier albums, and he includes insightful liner notes for each reissue, including track-by-track commentary for the bonus tracks, as well as lyrics and period photos. Along with So Far, So Good...So What! and Rust in Peace, Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? was most due for such a reissue as this. Originally recorded in early 1986 on a modest budget, this landmark album didn't boast pristine production, yet it was rightfully crowned a landmark release and remains one (one of the most influential metal albums of its decade and certainly one of the few truly definitive thrash albums, right up there with Metallica's Master of Puppets and Slayer's Reign in Blood, both of which were also released in 1986). Mustaine's liner notes help shed some light on the wondrous events surrounding this storied album, the band's second and the final one featuring guitarist Chris Poland and drummer Gar Samuelson. The four bonus tracks are alternate mixes by Randy Burns and aren't too remarkably novel in contrast. Peace Sells was so key to the development of metal and so influential to the then burgeoning thrash movement, it's a real godsend to have it remixed and remastered like this. Such treatment makes an already essential album for metal fans all the more essential. Beyond doubt, if you're going to own one and only one Megadeth album, make it this one. And if you've always wondered why Megadeth were so followed, here's a chief reason. The few albums that followed Peace Sells are damn good also, but this is the one that started it all. It's the foundation of the band's legacy and one of the best beginning to end metal albums ever.

In 1986, when Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? came out, most of the world was either listening to the new wave techno MTV bands or they were partying with hair-metal bands like Motley Crue and Ratt and Poison and the likes. Underground metal was starting to make some noise and die-hards were spotted at school wearing t-shirts from bands like Slayer and Exodus and Anthrax and Megadeth and Metallica and such.

Born of the vengeance of Dave Mustaine and his willingness to to anything necessary to show up his former bandmates in Metallica, Megadeth was born. The fastest, thrashiest, most obnoxious speed metal band that ever lived was what Mustaine was going for. But he wanted to have talent around him, too. Not only was Megadeth thrashing it up, they were techinically good musicians. Chris Poland on guitar and Gar Samuelson on drums round out Dave Mustaine and Dave Ellefson and Megadeth head into their second album.

"Wake Up Dead" a Megadeth staple tune and a certified rocker. The lyrics are a little juvenille now that we can look back, but otherwise a very cool tune. "The Conjuring" musically stunning, lyrically trying to be evil in the Mercyful Fate Satan-is-good kind of sense, except he's asking us to cojure Dave Mustaine instead of Lucifer. Kinda freaky cool. "Peace Sells" one of the greatest metal tunes ever written and of course Megadeth's most recognized tune. The bass line was the music for MTV news forever. Great song! Very anti-establishment! Sit up and notice me! This was Megadeth extreme! "Devils Island" a hard rocking tune based on the classic novel Papillon, showed us Mustaine was literate as well as pissed off. Great. "Good Mourning/Black Friday" another musical stunner with murderous, I-will-cut-you-down lyrics, almost feels like a leftover from Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! Metal, but kinda regressive. "Bad Omen" starts off like Good Mourning/Black Friday, a little eerie. Truns into a thrash-metal burner. Not really a memorable tune, missing some hooks. "I Ain't Superstitious" probably the most straight-forward rock tune, a cover, of course. "My Last Words" same intro as Good Mourning & Bad Omen? Soundz a little familiar. All out thrash metal.

Overall, Peace Sells... wil always be remembered as one of the pioneering albums of Thrash & Speed Metal. Truly great! A classic. One of the greatest heavy metal albums ever recorded.

Dig it!

A lot of people give Slayer's Reign in Blood more credibility than it deserves. Of course I'm not forgetting the impact that record had on the metal scene, and it was definitely one of the most influential albums of all time, no doubt, but when compared to this gem, it seems like just a generic thrash record, to me anyway.

I should note that while I love thrash, it doesn't come anywhere close to being my favorite genre. I do enjoy the brutal whiplash of Slayer and Sepultura, as well as the melodic thrash/speed combo of Nevermore, and also the 90's neo-thrash of Pantera and Machine Head - but I don't think any of those bands could top this (except for maybe Nevermore who truly are an amazing band). While those bands were writing songs about Hell and Satan (well, Slayer anyways), Megadeth tackled the more realistic issues of drugs, sex and politics (putting emphasis on that last one). Peace Sells... was their 2nd full-length record (first on Capitol) and the one that propelled Megadeth into metal stardom. It was here that they released one of their biggest hits, "Peace Sells", my favorite Megadeth song by far. Sure, there were great songs like "Hangar 18" and "Symphony of Destruction" in later years - but none of which had such energy and honesty as this thrasher. Offering such memorable lyrics as "when there's a new way/I'll be the first in line/but it better work this time" this was probably the catchiest offering of the album. Of course, who could forget the other single, "Wake Up Dead" - a song which offered a decadent solo halfway through that lasted about a minute. And of course we have the faster-paced "Devil's Island" and "My Last Words" - two of the best Megadeth songs in my opinion.

In reality, there's not much to complain about here. The remastered version includes the original mixes of all the songs before they were re-recorded for the Capitol version in 1986 - displaying a few differences from those of the final version. This extends the album length, which was a bit short, and also provides a better sound. It isn't worth buying if you have the original, obviously, but it's nice to have. All in all, I think Dave and the guys really had something special with this gem. A metal milestone that raised the bar for quality thrash.

10/10

This is the album that put megadeth "on the map", so to speak. They made some great videos (Wake up dead, Peace sells) and signed with Capitol Records. This is also the final album with the "Mustaine/Ellefson/Samuelson/Poland" lineup.

Wake up dead: 10/10
My favorite song on the album. It includes some great guitar riffs and solos, and just has a cool mood overall.

The Conjuring: 9/10
Again, great guitar work from Mustaine and Poland. Not as good as the songs it falls between though.

Peace sells: 10/10
This is one of Megadeths biggest songs. the opening bass riff is just a classic, and it was played on the MTV music news segments for years. The lyrics to this one are great, too.

Devil's Island: 10/10
An awesome song, with a catchy chorus. It also has a cool guitar solo. One of the best on the record.

Good Mourning: 5/5
This is the softer, somewhat acoustic intro to the next song, which is...

Black Friday: 4/5
After the slow Good Mourning half, the song kicks into high gear and turns into a very thrashy number.

Bad Omen: 9/10
Starts out with another slower paced intro, then it turns into an almost funk-thrash song. Very interesting.

I ain't superstious: 10/10
This one is a blues cover. Dave made some lyrical changes to this one, and gave it a more thrash feel. One of my favorites on the album.

My Last Words: 10/10
Starts off with yet another acoustic intro, then it turns into another fast-paced metal classic. A great way to end the album.

Total: 77/80, 5 stars

BONUS TRACKS:
The bonus tracks are just different mixesof Wake up dead, Conjuring, Peace sells, and Good Mourning/Black Friday. They are much more raw and include more reverb and looser sounding drums. I would have rather seen demos, but this is better than nothing!

This version is the Newly Remixed/Remastered version, personally remixed by Dave Mustaine. It sounds, obviously, much better than the original, and it includes new artwork and liner notes from dave himself. Be sure to pick this up, even if you have the original!

Ah thrash metal in 1986! What a terrific year for the genre! First we had Metallica's "Master of Puppets". Then we had Slayer's "Reign in Blood". And now we have Megadeth's "Peace Sells...But Who's Buying"!

This was Megadeth's breakthrough album and their best one along with "Rust in Peace". Dave Mustain and Marty Friedman are an awesome team of guitarists! Only a complete idiot would give this one star (*cough* "I Love Fall Out Boy" *cough*). Every song here is awesome but the title track really stands out. It may be my favorite Megadeth song ever! I mean every metalhead should like this song! This is almost as good as Metallica and Slayer! Luckily just like Slayer and unlike Metallica, Megadeth are still doing really awesome today! However if you're looking for some classic thrash metal in thrash's golden year(1986) then buy this album immediately!

The inspiration on this album is more relevant today than when it was released in 1986. Mustaine is often underlooked as a songwriter and even dare I say political analyst? Anyone who is familiar with late 80's early 90's MTV will remember his views and opinions regarding anything from his hatred for Metallica to The Gulf War. As we venture towards the end of the second Iraqi crisis Dave's words ring strong in my head. Peace Sells.. But Who's Buying... Iraq? Sadly it doesn't seem to be the case. "If their's a new way, I'll be the first in line." I long for a new way myself and would be right behind him loud and proud. These lyrics are timeless. If he ever lyrically nailed a song on the head he did it with the title track on this album, and that's just one of the eight ass kicking songs.

1. "Wake up Dead" is a killer opening track. It starts out with Dave telling a story regarding an adulteress affair one might have, and the certain doom this person will encounter if he wakes his sleeping partner at 4am when he gets home. The rest of the song is an instrumental, and a damn good one at that. With tempo changes, mind blowing solos and melodic swings this track seems like 3 songs in one leading up to the "Wake Up Dead!" chant at the end.

2. "Conjuring" keeps the energy flowing with a dark almost "trippy" solo/fill intro. The tune gradually picks up speed and agressivelly comes out to being one of the better songs on the album.

3. "Peace Sells... Brilliant, Aside from the afore mentioned statement this is one of Dave's most popular songs and a live staple of a Megadeth encore. This is in my opinion Megadeth's greatest song.

4. "Devil's Island" Inspired by John Hagee's novel, this song tells an apocalyptic tale to the tune of a descending chug of riffs. Great riffage throughout, I love the intro when the power chords meet the tapping solo

5. "Good Mourning / Black Friday" - My God, where do I start with this one! The vocals on this track don't come in for about two minutes. After first hearing this you may wonder where the hell could Dave progress to after the vicious multi-part onslaught that he just treated your ears to. Of course he finds a way to do it, and do it he does indeed. This song is like a multi-part rock opera that should take an hour but is sped up to the ball busting pulse of 6 1/2 minutes. It takes several listens to fully grasp this one.

6. "Bad Omen" Similar to Conjuring (track 2) This is a dark minor scale based song that starts out dark and slow and builds to a all out thrashball. Cool song

7. "I Ain't Superstitious" Short, cool riffs, nothing to special I usually skip over this one.

8. "My Last Words" Killer, Starts out with a clean (finger-picked?) riff and busts into, yes believe it or not an all out thrash metal attack. Great way to close out an incredible album.

Megadeth rules, as for the remastering in question.. I say go for the remastered version, I've heard both, and the newer one is still incredibly raw it just has better production. Worth it for sure. Later

All those bemoaning the remastered versions of these albums have lost their minds. The songs sound 100% better than they ever did. In fact if you want to hear how awful they sound in comparison, just listen to the four Randy Burns mixes at the end. These recordings show how the songs originally sounded and they are absolutely horrible. Dave included them for the sole purpose of letting people hear how much better the cleaned up versions sound.

This album is what metal is all about. From begining to end, this album is a master piece. Some critics say that its not as good as Metallica's Master of Puppets or Slayer's Reign in Blood, then don't listen to them. It's better than Master of Puppets, but ties with Reign in Blood. The most famous bass beat is in this song, right at the begining of the song Peace Sells. It takes true talent to make an album like this, and Megadeth has done it effortlessly.