Customer Reviews

Universal

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

 

 

OK, only one review up so far and it's negative. I gotta disagree. Downset is back with a vengeance on this disc. Musically, it's a companion to their first disc, with a bit more melody, especially in the "shout-'em-with-me" choruses. But it's heavy, and the less-polished production serves the band well. Downset is not a we're-gonna-impress-you-with-our-studio-tricks kind of band; they are raw, intense, and rejuvinated on this disc. Lyrically, Rey focuses less on writing manifestos against issues like racism and violence toward women, and more on personal issues like survival, reaching out to others, and staying in the game. But this is a vocalist who continues to share his message - and his heart - without compromise. Thank you Downset (and Hawino Records) for staying true to your original vision. Here's hopeing disc 5 follows sooner rather than later.

I started listening to downset back in '96 when the title album came out... the song "Anger" just really grabbed me. Well i loved that album, then a couple of years later got "do we speak a dead language", and at first it wasn't as good to me as downset was.... but i grew to love it... and in fact i ended up liking it more than downset.

the same thing happened when "check your people" came out. The first time i listened through it, i thought it was horrible... didn't appeal to me at all. But the more time i gave it, the more i loved it... and now, i like it better than the first two albums combined. it is more of a produced sound, so you don't have that raw edge you heard in downset... HOWEVER, the production is good, and it works. Reyes really conveys his messages well in this one, and in the first track the vocals are sung off key and kinda poorly... but it works on this track, and almost sounds like he sings off key on purpose... give the first track a listen and you'll understand what i'm saying.

The first track is both melodic in the chorus and the hardest track of the CD... don't judge the whole album by the first track alone though.... the song "2000" harkens back to "Anger", by the repetition of the title of the song.... and it works well... every track on this is solid, and they have even included the requisite track in spanish called "en el aire", and it is great... soft in the beginning and slamming vocals once it gets going.

this whole album is great, and if you always like downset and have grown up with them, you will appreciate the bands maturity in this album. the production has changed for the better, but the sound is good old downset. you can't go wrong with this one.

if you are new to downset, i recommend starting out with the album "downset.", and working your way more recently... if you are younger and can't appreciate the original, you might enjoy this if you liked the second album.

Downset doesn't really sound like any other band... you can't lump them into a specific category, if not LA-based metal, or latino hard rock. I love their sound and the whole thing works.

Downset has successfully shaken off the majority of thier rap-rock skin of the past and have really come into thier own. Now, I say most of it, because you can still tell it's the same guys who put out "Do We Speak A Dead Language".

"Check Your People" is admittedly one of my favorites, so for me "Universal" has proven both a regression and evolution. Regression meaning the sound quality is beavier, but very stripped-down much like Sepultura's "Roorback". What do I mean by evolution? Well, to the casual listener it may sound like more of the same at first. But much like Fear Factory's latest, it takes a while to sink in.

Universal's overall sound is distinctly Downset: Booming bass, cohesive-yet-basic heavy metal riffs, thick n' moshing hardcore breaks, and the ever-screaming Rey. I'd recommend this to fans of "Check Your People" who are looking for a step in a similar sonic direction. "Universal" is much more centered on the feel of the riffs and the feel of the vocals, rather than the message and the complexity of the music. The feel is quite pained and menacing throughout, much more hardcore-metal than rap.

Highly recommended for all Downset fans, old and new. I gave it four stars because unlike "Check Your People" I have no desire to listen to this CD every day, especially on a hot summer day when I'm bouncing off the walls. Maybe if I had air conditioning this would get a higher rating, but at my brain it is grating.

My thoughts exactly Andy J. Heuer! This album is a refreshing brutal evolution of this one of a kind band, they are pioneers.

Do not listen to any negative reviews, theyr just player haters. This band has never failed to impress me since they burst onto the scene in the early nineties. Brutal. Honest. Hardcore.

This music has integrity and depth, unlike some other bands who sell out and kiss a$$(YOU KNOW WHO U ARE!). WAKE UP and ditch listenin to that fad-trash and move up to the higher level, mofuggin' L.A. DOWNSET!!!!

Buy it and experience the revolution.

Sendin' love and respect to tha Downset crew! ARES U ROCK! Peace out.

I've been a Downset fan since the self-titled debut..and seen them in concert a couple of times. This is probably my least favorite CD by them, but it is still good. I really liked some of the uptempo, less rappy, more hardcore songs that they did on 'Do We Speak a Dead Language?' and have always wished they would do more of those.

With their latest release, Universal, downset has discarded what made them a unique band that received my enjoyment.

1. downset (1994) -- Their debut CD contained fast-paced in-your-face political lyrical action with mostly mediore music lines.

2. Do We Speak a Dead Language? (1996) -- With this release, downset developed their music, including catchier bass lines. The vocals became tied to the music more instead of being mere rap.

3. Check Your People (2000) -- In 2000 downset utilized heavy musical action supplemented by strong vocals and minor repetition.

4. Universal (2004) -- Most recently, they put out some catchy slap bass and average guitar riffs with shorter weakened lyrics. The songs follow a trend of painful repetition.

As you can see, I feel that downset reached a high point in 2000 with Check Your People, combining the lyrical punch of their self-titled release and the musical advances of Do We Speak a Dead Language? Naturally, I was disappointed to see the waver in Universal. I personally prefer the unintelligible jumble of political ramblings that made downset lyrics stand out from others and the music that went with the vocals perfectly.

I am a big Downset fan. I've followed everything they've ever done, even going so far as to pick up expensive import singles from previous albums. But 'Universal' is a real piece of crap. The lyrics are super weak, the songs are repetitive(some even bordering on being completely annoying). What happened to these guys? Hugely disappointing, especially after a four year wait since their last album.

Un gran masterpiece, otro gran disco d Downset, quiero el code blue coma!

They were once a band to be reckoned with, now its come to this. All I gotta say is if your a fan of downset. do not buy this cd you will be dissapointed and asking yourself what happened to the pioneers of rap/rock. This cd is simply garbage not one good song. The sound quality is terrible, vocals terrible, lyrics terrible. They should have gotten help in writing their songs like they did back in the day. Stick with their debut cd plenty of classics on that. IM WARNING YOU STAY AWAY FROM THIS GARBAGE!!!! youll thank me.