Customer Reviews

Self Made Maniac

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

 

 

I wish there was a better way that I could let everyone know how I feel about "Self Made Maniac." But unfortunately, I don't know one. This album has struck me like no other one. Of my hundreds of CDs, I am having trouble finding anything better. "SMM" is written so cleverly and uniquely that I am amazed that China Drum hasn't landed on any top 10s, or hit it big. Nearly every song is has "Hit" potential. I encourage giving "SMM" a try because you don't know what you are missing. It's an ear full with tracks like "Foxhole"; their first single, "Fiction of Life"; and "Stop it All Adding Up." You will love it from the first listen to the last. I promise

This is what it's all about; since the Clash vacated their crown there's been a void in the music scene that's been fleetingly filled by a few bands, early Public Enemy, Janes Addiction, Living Colour, Nirvana and Manic St Preachers to name a few, however some shockingly bad attempts at "punk" have been shifting millions of units to the kids, god knows why when there's a band like China Drum out there, if they don't make it then there's no hope for this generation. This albumn is faultless, "fiction of life" is an anthem for the late nineties, "Down by the River", "60 Seconds" what a record, and I foolishly thought that their cover of "Wuthering heights" couldn't be bettered before the millenium, well they've written a whole albumn to prove me wrong.

Don't let my my words influence your possible purchase of this album (or any other album by China Drum);however, I will tell you that you won't find another punk album with the combination of hard-core drama and shear beauty that this album achieves. The well-written lyrics deserve an "A" also. Move the outta the way all of you MTV "generation X", punk-wanna-be, novelty bands!! China Drum is the real deal......"Self Made Maniac" deserves a perfect rating because the album provides a variety of styles and spontenuity within each song. Check out "fiction of life" and "all i wanna be". This is a hard core punk band;however, the lyrics and instrumentation are clear (as well as beautiful)...illustrating an ACTUAL talent (were as some "punk" bands get off on nonsense screaming, and lyrics about beating someone up at a party). Check China Drum out...for your sake!

China Drum's second album Self Made Maniac is quite simply an awesome collection of witty, passionate, melodic rock songs. A little punk, a little pop, a lot of emotion and a touch of anthemic widescreen rock add up to one of the best albums of the '90s that no one knows about. Take a chance, ya won't regret it.

Wasn't aware of Self Made Maniac - it's on overnight delivery rignt now. If it's 50% as good as Goosefair I'll be very happy

A power-punk masterpiece. They are even better live. Which begs the question... Where has China Drum gone?? Did they break up??

Does anyone know???

When I first heard this record, I was a little disapointed because the last one 'Goosefair' is one of my all time favourite albums, but after a while it really sings through. The opening tracks 'One thing' and 'Guilty Deafness' are not typical China D but convey a more darker side to the band, but not that dark to be not China Drum. From then on it gets more happier and typically China Drum , particularly 'Fiction of Life','All I wanna Be'and 'Down by the River'. The track that makes this album however is 'Stop it all adding up', thisa is one of the best songs I have ever heard. This album is great and a great follow up to the last effort, I can't wait to see what comes next.

China Drum are a fun take on punk. Like Biz Markee next to Puff Daddy, they stand next to the self-seriousness of their British predecessors and guffaw. Sure they sound serious sometimes, but the pop mixed into the tracks belies a sense of humor. They have a great time being loud. Madness and Sex Pistols thrown together.