Customer Reviews

Truant

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I didn't even like the first Alien Ant Farm album very much. It seemed a bit mediocre. The Michael Jackson cover of "Smooth Criminal" was way overplayed. These are reasons that some poor souls will never listen to "Truant" and hear the vast improvement they've made since. Dryden (lead vocals) was almost killed in a bus accident while they were one tour for their last album. It seems that this incident really affected the way the write and play music. Every track on the album is great. It's been an every-day-listen for a very long time. They've also changed it up a lot with a nice variety of different styles of music. Possibly one of my most played albums I own. Do yourself a favor, blow off all those people who think Alien Ant Farm stinks, due to an over-saturated radio played Michael Jackson cover. Buy Truant, and be amazed.

I wasn't too impressed by Alien Ant Farm's debut album, "ANThology," when it came out back in 2001. I bought it mainly for "Smooth Criminal," but only dug a few other tunes on it, like "Movies," "Attitude," and "Sticks And Stones." They just kinda faded from the banks of my memory after awhile, and I basically stopped caring about them. I heard of their bus crash, and was sorry to hear about it, but otherwise, I was not interested in the band anymore.

Then, in comes "truANT," an album produced by two members of one of my favorite bands, Stone Temple Pilots. So, I'm thinking, maybe this one will be better. Yet I still ignored the album's release. I did hear their first single from the disc, "These Days," and instantly fell for it's irrisistable hook and heavy sound. I then heard their second single, "Glow," and I came to a conclusion: I was going to get this album! "Glow" has a jangly acoustic sound, with a great hook that has fitting, if not too upfront, lyrics like "I'll be the fuse that she blows, and even with the lights out, we'll glow."

Lead singer Dryden Mitchell's lyrics are as unusually clever, and pronounced with the utmost intensity, almost like a metalhead Michael Stipe. With riffs ranging from Rage Against The Machine to well, Stone Temple Pilots, AAF displays that they know how to be underrated and could prove themselves if ever came the challenge. Their mix of metal, punk, alternative and latin give them a bit of a one-up over most bands coming out these days as either emo, hard rock or garage (not that's bad, just bland). It's nice to see a band come out who can throw us a change-up every so often.

So much for the sophomore slump, because AAF have done a superb job on claiming that they aren't one trick ponies. Catchy, clever and winningly rockin', "truANT," is a terrific buy.

The highlights include: catchy opener "1000 Days"; the metal-thumper "Drifting Apart"; hard rockin' wall-shakers, "Sarah Wynn," and "S.S. Recognize."

When "These Days" started hitting the radio, I wasn't impressed. I bought ANThology on the strength of "Movies", many months before "Smooth Criminal" became the sensation it did. My favorite tracks on ANThology were "Flesh and Bones", "Attitude" and "Sticks and Stones". These were songs that pushed the typical alterna-rock-pop envelope, and were the songs that sorted the men from the "I only bought it for 'Smooth Criminal'" boys. "These Days" struck me as neither original, nor skilled. I had fears that the Sophomore Album Curse had struck.

However, after "Quiet" started getting some airplay, I gave the disk a chance. I really liked the production of the vocals on "Quiet", or as the household affectionately refers to it, "the bumblebee song" (F- This concept is unappealing). "Glow", nestled between the two radio hits, became my first new favorite song (it's *ALL* about the clapping), immediately followed by "Tia Lupe". (I'm surprised at how low others have rated this track.) "1000 days", "Drifting Apart", "Never Meant" and "Hope" have all grown on me as well. Now that I've listened to the album extensively, I feel my initial fears were unfounded. They haven't lost their touch.

However, what, aside from RIAA's Iron Hand of Subpoena, is to stop you from just getting the tracks? I'm glad you asked. This has got to be the best execution of album art concept EVER. Before the album was released, when all Amazon displayed was the cover, I realized I needed the Pee-Chee (tm) folder album. I was certainly not disappointed- I now have a handy dandy multiplication table. That's Useful Information. Even without the phone number and the CD Locker Room extras, the liner notes make the album purchase worthwhile, especially for those of us who kept their Pee-Chee folders in their Trapper Keeper (also, presumably, tm).

Hopefully Terry Corso's departure won't ruin the band's future outings. I don't entirely know how collaborative the band is, but I know that live it's all about Tye anyway. While I think Dryden's "dreamy", how can you not dig a guy who plays Kalimba?

While touring to support their multi-platinum debut, ANThology, a bus accident left Alien Ant Farm hospitalized, and singer Dryden Mitchell with a broken neck. After the healing, AAF headed back to work on their sophomore album, truANT. They got some production help from Robert and Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots, and the end result is a collection of well-crafted songs that is eons better than ANThology.

Make no mistake; this is a rock album. Tracks like "1000 Days", "Drifting Apart", and "These Days", prove that AAF can go riff-for-riff with the best of `em. Dryden Mitchell's vocals are always tight, proving you can be a contemporary rock singer without rapping or growling. Some interesting deviations, however, separate AAF from most mainstream upstarts.

The acoustic toe-tapper, "Glow" will have you singing along on the first listen; it's a good candidate for a single. "Tia Lupe" is a Latin number complete with Cuban percussion and horns. The album's closer, "Hope", is backed by a string arrangement that takes the forefront at 2:42 and offers up one of the best breakdowns you'll ever hear.

Whether these new sounds are the work of the DeLeo brothers is uncertain. What is clear, though, is that truANT proves Alien Ant Farm is more than just a Michael Jackson cover band; they are one of the most talented young bands to emerge in a long time.

The disc also comes with a 25-minute DVD. After watching it, I'm sure that somewhere four guys are saying, "Yeah, my dorky kid brother is in that band, Alien Ant Farm." I say, as long as they keep dropping great albums like truANT they can be as dorky as they want to be.

I bought this album on pretty much a whim a few weeks after it came out in 2003, and it seriously hasn't gotten old since. There are very few weak spots on this album, if any. I have close to 4,000 songs in iTunes and "Quiet" has been towards the top of my play count for a long time. The singles, "These Days" and "Glow" stick very easily. 1000 Days, Never Meant, Tia Lupe and Hope are also very good. The cd is a good balance between hard and soft and I like that they've done some different things with this album than they did with their first.

I originally didn't care too much for the debut album aside from Movies, Stranded and Attitudes, but Truant inspired me to go back and take another listen and I actually like the first album much better now that I've gone back. I've heard a sneak peak of some of the songs for the album coming out in July and I have a feeling its going to be excellent. Give these guys a chance, I'm sure you'll find something you like.

Alien Ant Farm got stereotyped as the band that re-made "Smooth Criminal". Their sophomore effort, truANT, blows any stereotypes, as well as comparisons to the king of pop, and their first album out of the water and proves they have much melodic integrity. These songs are much better versed as far as funky, tasty, edgy, melodic pop rockin' music is concerned. Very original vocal melodies and harmonies combined with a variety of well-constructed guitar licks and drum work stand out and make this a great album. At about 51 seconds into the third track "Quiet", there is one of the best drum fills I've ever heard. Track 8, "Goodbye", has one of the most addictive choruses of all time. truANT, truTHAT!

Ok, i'm being honest here: when Alien Ant Farm released ANTholgy, I didn't like it much...at all. After a year, I picked up the CD to see if me tastes have changed. They had, and I really started to like them. When TruANT was released I got it fast as I could, AND IT'S SOOOO MANY STEPS ABOVE ANTHOLGY. Here's my song review:

1,000 Days- kind of like Courage, but better, especially better in the chorus. 9/10

Drifting Apart- cool guitar. the second part of the chorus is great. the vocals just keep going flawlessly. 8.5/10

Quiet- it might sound a little odd at first, but the chorus is like...whoa, once the song picks up. It's kind of like Happy Death Day...KIND OF. 8.5/10

Glow- one of the best on the cd. a new style for them, but distinctly AAF. Lighter and more upbeat compared to the rest of the cd. 16/10

These Days- the first single off of the cd. oddly catchy chorus. nice guitar. 9.9/10

Sarah Wynn- i freaking love this song. it's kind of sad, but not depressing. (i think) it's about a girl that got addicted to heroin. the chorus is good, but could use something. 9.9/10

Never Meant- one word: fresh. it's a reggae song with chimes and jazz muted trumpets. what more can you say? 10/10

Goodbye- so very alien ant farm. great guitar in the intro. the song's in 6/8 time so it feels a little slow. niiiice. 9.5/10

Tia Lupe- a weird latin song in 7/8 or 9/8 time. i don't really like it much, but it's not bad. 7/10

Rubber Mallet- a heavy song in 7/8 time. again, i don't really like it. it's one of those songs that scares the heck out of me, because alien ant farm can be so weird. 7/10

S.S. Recognize- HOLY CRAP. this song is the heaviest on the cd, but no doubt the best. almost sounds KoRn like. the vocals sound similar to Incubus' "New Skin" later in the song. scares the heck out of me.whole new meaning to Alt. Metal. 20/10

Hope- this song depresses me. sounds very good, but it's sad. nice ending track. the chorus is like...whoa. 15/10

hopefully this review was helpful. NOW GO BUY THIS CD NOW!!!

I am a serious and strict music critic. I am enfatuated with this album. This album will grow on you. At first listen you will be comparing it to ANThology. But this is alien ant moved on to brighter skies. After a couple listens you will be begging to listen to it again and again. This will be one of those that people will be praising in due time. If your a fan of music and musicians who appreciate different music this album wont leave your cd player for months.

can someone please give this cd a review so i can know if i should buy it or not...

I am not too pleased with the incremental rating system that CDNOW allows me to use, so know that the 3 stars that I have given would probably lie between 3.5 and 4.

Alien Ant Farm's latest release, truANT, appears to be a decent follow-up to their 2001 Dreamworks debut, ANThology. AAF teamed up with STP ax-grinders, Scott and Dean DeLeo, but this time the STP boyz will be honing their musical skills and knowledge towards production. Also, the DeLeo's were matching wits with classic mixing artist and producer, Brendan O' Brien (STP, Pearl Jam, RATM), so it shouldn't be a suprise that some old 90's alt influnce has snuck its way onto truANT - intricate, grungy sounding riffs coupled with choppy guitar solos are just a few examples; this mixed with AAF's still defining sound should not disappoint fans.

Pop it in - this record will keep you interested from the start. "1000 days" starts off with a roaring riff that shifts into a meaningful bass riff in the chorus; "Glow" is a trendy, radio wanna-be song that is screaming for attention and may be the whereabouts of an old STP ghost; "These Days", "Rubber Mallet", and "S.S. Recognize" are refurbished versions of tracks from their awarding winning EP that came out in 2000. In "Tia Lupe", they prove to their fans that the nylon guitar lessons in Tijuana paid off. The last track, "Hope" reveals the more vulnerable and cathartic side of Dryden Mitchell as he proclaims, "Someone I thought was a friend to me ripped a hole in my life/Someone I thought was a friend to me has gone and married my wife."

Overall, AAF is one of the more promising younger acts of the modern rock day. After bursting on to the scene with "Smooth Criminal" in the summer of 2001, they followed up in 2002 with the success of "Movies", and now have released their new LP with hopes of similar fortunes. If history has a tendency to repeat itself, then AAF shouldn't be too concerned.