Customer Reviews

Roll on

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Roll On is unbelievable. There's many reasons why but musicianship is one and good songs is another. After two terrific albums this mindboggling trio has made a third that is one of the hundred greatest rock albums ever. Not only is every song a gem but there are two killer videos included that will play on your computer(much to my surprise when I thought I was just going to play the audio tracks and I was treated to Pictures in the Mirror and the classic Prisoner of Society). These vids give you a good idea of the band's energy when on stage.

The first time I saw them was at Slim's in 2001. During the first guitar break in Roll On, Chris Cheney shouts out "Hello San Francisco, how the f**k are ya?". Then they proceeded to blow the roof of the place. I hadn't seen anything so fresh, so jarring, so original, so g*d d**n good in many, many years.

It goes without saying that Cheney is near genius on guitar. Nobody can switch in middle of a phrase and the switch again through three different genres like Cheney. And this is in a high energy punk format. And he sings. And the songs are great. They range all over the place.

Scott Owens sings too. He plays an upright bass at a milliom miles an hour or maybe it's a million and a half kilometers an hour. In any case, he can do that will he's standing on it. Yeah, standing on it. While it's upright!! I've seen them four times and Owen's role in the mix still mystifies me. He's a large reason, because of his bizarre riffs and amazing harmony, that this trio sounds fuller that most six piece bands.

Unfortunately Travis Demsey no longer drums for the band, though his replacement does an admirable job. without exception, Demsey is the greatest drummer I've ever seen. I'm happy to see that the band was able to continue when they parted ways. Big shoes to fill.

Roll On has been used for Espn's X Games and for Fahrenheit 911. So if you were wondering what that music was and you wanted to own it, this is the album. It's one of the few things out there worth the money you spend on it and it doesn't grow old. I just wish they would get to The States a little more often than once every three years because they're hot.

I've had this album ever since it first came out, but i havent written reviews until now. The Living End is one of the most overlooked and underrated bands out there today, and there is no excuse for this because theyre signed to a major label, Reprise. This is the same label that shoves Green Day and My Chemical Romance down your throat 24/7 but these guys barely get any promotion. The songwriting ability of this band is phenomenal, and they draw their influences from many places,punk, rockabilly, classic rock, but wind up sounding simply like a rock band, not a scatter-brained band striving to cram every influence they can into an album just for the sake of it. I would start naming the best songs, but then I'd be simply rewriting the entire tracklisting. If you want a band that has the potential to rejuvenate stagnant rock radio, then this is it.

Where do I begin? This is a GREAT CD. I bought it about one month after it came out. I popped it into my CD Player in my car on the way home and instantly, I'm like "My God this Kicks But!" Instantly, when I got home, I made this the #1 CD in my 5 disc player. There is a little Review of each song that I have included:

Roll On - What a GREAT way to begin the album, the Intro is very cool and it catches the feel of TLE (The Living End).

Pictures in the Mirror - This song has a good beat, but for some reason the lyrics just don't flow with me.

Riot on Brodway - This is a song my Hockey team came out to during a game. A great song that goes fast, and realy got me pumped. I even had the ref ask me who this was, and when I told him, he said he'd have to look into the band ;).

Staring at the Light - this is actually a mediocre song. It sounds good, the words flow, I just can't peice it together.

Carry me Home - You will get to hear Chris's great guitar work. Another fast song and it is very good it is hard to understand the first time, but it gets better.

Don't Shut the Gate - Once again, this is the LAST Track on this CD that does not flow with me.

Dirty Man - Another Great Song, The chorus is pretty strong, I think this song has to deal with Dictatorship.

Blood on Your Hands - Slow Song no beat, then all of a sudden BIG Chorus, and from there the song gets faster.

Revolutin Regained - This is about War as evident in the first line, but still a great song, one of the school's I played in HS Football was called the "Muskateers" this was their fight song.

Silent Victory - By far and large this is one of my favorites on the CD it's an anthem for the underdogs. I listened to this before my Football games and it got me ready espically the part "We Won't Surrender, untill the end" and "Won't someone hear our battle cry".

Read About It - A Song about politics again

Killing the Right - Now this song caught me off guard, the beats, lyrics, music and all flow, but towards the chours chris says the albums only two cuss words "It's not right it's a F'ing outcry". Kinda weird....but cool

Uncle Harry - Ahhhhh Great Song, the little guitar solo in there is pretty cool and the chorus after the solo is fast and upbeat. For the record, they are saying "Pissing in the bath" not "Pissing in the Bar"

Prisioner of Society - The song that started my Living End Fan craze. This song made me by the self titled, and it adds replay value.

Overall a GREAT CD, their new one "Modern Arteleri" will be EVEN Better, I have heard "Who's gonna save us" and it is GREAT!!!!

5 Stars
2 Thumbs Up, WAY Up

Well the Living End are back and my god do they rock this time. I know what your thinking, the last album was gonna take some beating but they've done it. They have gone for the more rock and roll kinda sound this time, losing some of the rockabilly from before. but this makes no difference as Chris is at his best with his guitar this time around. this album will definately proves that he is one of the best guitarists in Australia and prehaps the world at the moment. the riffs and guitar work on Roll On are simply amazing and his solos as ever will leave your jaw wide open with awe. Scott's upright bass seems to take more of a back stage to the guitar in this album but really shines in some of the tracks. Trav's drums as ever keep the music flowing along with high speed but really stand out on 'Don't shut the gate'.

the tracks are:

1) Roll On: good opening track with a great shout along chorus. Really sets the tone of the album well. About the dockers in Melbourne

2) Pictures in the mirror: First single off the album. Great track with a pop feel about it, another fast track with another cool solo bit in the middle.

3) Riot on Broadway: Starts with feedback, great fast track to play, with the bass standing out more here. Has the added addition of horns and sound effects

4) Staring at the light: Not like they have done before, slower than usual. Has a wicked start, bit like all torn down

5) Carry me Home: prolly one of the best on the album. Great fast track about alcohol and that one last drink. The guitaring will blow you away on this track, especially the solo.

6) Don't shut the gate: This track sounds very like Bloody Mary with the guitar riff being repeated over and over. Interesting lyrics about imigration. Great stand out drums from Trav.

7) Dirty man: very pop sounding track with great lyrics, prolly the best yet from Chris. Good all round track.

8) Blood on your Hands: Very very different track! starts off slow with all the instruments kinda warming up. Meant to be a cross between Sham 67 and Reggae!? Bass sounds so so good at the start.

9) Revolution regained: Song about the trouble in East Timor. Cool guitaring at the start, with yet another catchy chorus.

10) Silent Victory: The best track on the album. This has a very British rock and roll style and sound to it, with great lyrics and chorus. Has the best solo yet!

11) Read all about it: Good song with a great bass line to it. Takes a while to get used to, but will grow on you. Trust me.

12) Killing the right: Another very rocky song. Has a good shouting chorus, and a very complicated structure. Guitaring is excellent again, especially the solo and at the end. Only other track to have horns.

13) Astoria paranoia: great track, only one i know to start with just the drums. Scott stands out on this track with the bass.

14) Uncle harry: With all the track about political views etc this track is a nice relief, showing the guys haven't lost their sense of humour. Great to sing along to when your in, out, sober, drunk! Great ending to a fantastic album.

if you know the living end then buy this album now! If you don't then buy this and their first, self titled album now!

Aussie Rock at its best!

To be honest, I never thought I was much of a punk/rock fan. This is not actually true, but only because lately I have unfortunately classed punk as the music (if it can be called that) that is played these days. I'm sure you know the bands i'm talking about...Simple Plan, Good Charlotte and so on...I happen to hate these bands with a passion. The Living End, however, are in a class of their own, and their music is the true definition of the genre 'punk rock'. Being an aussie myself, I've always had a certain like for any musicians born and bred down under, but a band like the Living End have earned their reputation regardless. These guys are absolutely amazing, in both their songwriting and musical talents. This is well demonstrated in one of their best efforts, 'Roll On'.

Chris Cheney can only be described as a genius on guitar, able to make the 3-piece band (unsusually small for the modern day) sound at times like a 5 or 6 piece. He almost deserves to be among the greats, such are his talents, not to mention his amazing singing capabilities. Scott Owen's driving double bass complement Cheney perfectly, and Andy Strachan's drums are solid to say the least (although perhaps not as masterful as their previous drummer, Travis Demsey).

On the whole, this is a must listen for any true rock, punk or metal fan; after all, my favourite band is Metallica, whose style of music couldn't differ more. The highlights of the album include the title track, Roll On, which is an absolute killer opener; Riot On Broadway, Carry Me Home and Don't Shut The Gate are also my favourites, although you may have your own opinions on each track. Recommended for any fans of good music.

Okay, this band is not necessarily "new"... I think they had an album in 1999, and that was there first, but considering I mainly listen to stuff like AC/DC, Elton John, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, etc., they're new to me. It's amazing, I never really got into the Living End until I heard this album. My friend loaned it to me saying I would like it and I had this sorta "Whatever" attitude about it. It was a BIG surprise to me! This is one of the best albums of the millenium that I have heard! (That's quite a good job; I've heard a lot).

Anyway, enough about that, I happen to love this album! I cannot get enough of this album because it is so unique! You hear some ska beats (Blood On Your Hands), some hardcore punk songs ("Read About It", "Killing the Right", "Roll On", "Astoria Paranoia", and "Uncle Harry"), and there's some songs that sound like classic rock and roll ("Silent Victory", "Staring At the Light", "Don't SHut the Gate", "Carry Me Home", and others). It is such a great blend of music, and anyone looking to hear something new should listen this album. I think these guys are on the verge of making a dent in the music business. Of course, now that I said that, they'll break up soon <sigh>. Oh, and the live "Prisoner of Society" is really cool, too. I think that was put on there to get people to buy it, if I may be so bold to speculate. But, I think this album should be owned by people who want to hear something new and refreshing.

The Living End come back with more rowdy punkabilly for thier second album. Chris Cheney's brilliant guitar work really hits the forefront this time round. His fluent muscular leads recall the golden days of AC/DC and Led Zeppelin. The instrumental interplay between him and the other band members creates an irresistably catchy and powerful sound that 95% of todays punk bands lack. While some parts of the album do sound a little disjointed moving from ska, to surf punk to flat out hard rock all in one song, the album never loses momentum or energy.

Take the snotty power-punk of Green Day, throw in the shouted choruses of early AC/DC, add a pinch of Bad Religion-style harmonies, and you get the Living End. This CD will grow on you like fungus. Run, don't walk, to the record store.

I am very dissapointed because these guys have been around for so long and I am just now getting into them! I actually stumbled onto them by accident, but I love them now! Roll On in my opinion is their best album aside from their self titled one. I am not a huge fan of Modern Artillery but Roll On firmly delivers some f*cking good sounds. If you want something good with a unique sound (In todays market.) you have to pick up this album!

Every song on this album is worth listening to, there's a bunch of people who are like "arr bloody livin' end, pack of australian c**nts, blah blah." , I live in Australia and i know a lot of australian c**nts, but the living end aren't. There's the obvious hits and singles on this like "Roll on." and "Pictures in the mirror." But there are some really overlooked tracks on this album like "Uncle Harry." Despite it's immature lyrics and short length, is by far the standout track. It's immeasurably catchy. anf funny too. Songs like "Riot on broadway." and "blood on your hands." are also overlooked. The raw music of this is great, to anyone who plays an instrument this is gold, especially for guitarists, Chris Cheney is one of the greatest guitarists of all time in my opinion, well certainly the best in a punk band anyway. None of the songs are absent of a guitar solo.