Customer Reviews

In the Valley of Dying Stars

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Shreds Creed... Korn doesn't even come close... Kicks Limp Bizkits mom in the the face... Why would you even think about not buying this album?

Going back to the sounds of Regretfully Yours while raising the volume a notch, these guys put out the best album since Jimmy Eat World's Clarity. It is refreshing to receive a new rock and roll disc of such intensity in this era flooded with weak euro-synth-pop-trash. Great lyrics. Getting booted off Elektra was the best thing that ever happened to Superdrag. Saw them in Tempe this summer. They rock. Buy this record. Out.

Hailing from Knoxville myself (their hometown), it's really been something to see Superdrag's progression over the years. From their early, early days as The Used, all the way up to this record; having been there in the beginning, it gives everything about this album an awe-inspiring feeling. Sure, they've always been great - even when they were a sloppy power pop band who weren't sure what kind of music they really wanted to do, but now they are honestly worthy of the kind of legend status that seems to always elude the truly great. The album? Hooky, smart, and everything you could hope for in a classic record. It's like indie rock without the attitude, it's like power pop without the silliness, it's like pure, perfect rock and roll without ever having been corrupted. Sure hope it stays that way for at least ten more years...

Okay, the year isn't over, but I think I have heard the best new CD release of 2000. It's hard to believe that Elektra records wasn't interested in anything more this great band had to offer, as this is possibly their best effort yet.

The first track, "Keep It Close to Me" is an infectous, hard rocking tune that sets the pace for what's to come -- 46 minutes of catchy, hook-laden rock & roll. They stay true to the Superdrag sound -- the Beatlesque melodies, the thick wall of guitars -- though they change the pace enough on songs like "Ambulance Driver" and the title track to keep things interesting. Every song is as good as the one that precedes it....it's rare to find an album this solid throughout.

"In the Valley of Dying Stars" will no doubt please Superdrag's existing fan base, and will hopefully win over some new fans as well.

Superdrag have put out three great and different albums, each one of them seemingly better than the previous. "In the Valley" is the best record I have herd this year. They have taken pop rock and breathed new life into an increasingly redundant genre. Superdrag are incredible live. Anyone who likes rock music should own this, and all superdrag's records. Please buy this album so they will be able to afford to keep making more. If this was the new Foo Fighters record everyone would be calling it the album of the year.

This is Superdrag's back to basics album. After experimenting with different sounds on their second album "Headtrip In Every Key", they went back to just using guitars, bass, drums and vocals on this album. The album opens with what is quite possibly, the best "f**k you" to the music industry which they belonged to. The song is "Keep It Close To Me". There isn't a bad song on this album. Not a single song. Every song on this album is Classic Superdrag. This is the album I tell friends to pick up if they want to be introduced to the band. Then you should pick up "Headtrip In Every Key", "Last Call For Vitriol", "The Fabulous 8-Track Sounds Of Superdrag", "Greetings From Tennessee E.P.", and lastly "Regretfully Yours". I think their first album is quite possibly their weakest effort. Once you're done wearing out these albums, pick up John Davis' self-titled first solo album!!! thanks

After the disaster of superdrag's relationship with elektra records, the 'nice, polite boys' (as john davis calls his band in the superdrag:instant live album 2003) from tennessee turn in their coat and ties for jeans and smoked infested black t-shirts. they outgrew their mop tops and stopped combing their hair.
THEY EXCAHNGED THE WHAT USED TO SEEM LIKE THE DREAM OF OPENING UP FOR NADA SURF EVERY OTHER DAY FOR HEADLINING BARS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, most of the time though it was in their beloved south. these bars are what represent superdrag. the hard working 'been there screw it' attitude that they hold. they dont care if they have to play at a greasy, one-ceiling fan, sports center on in the bakground tv, one pool table bar.
The record opens up with the feedback of some Tennessee baseball radio station, only more supporting their blue collar humble backgrounds. it then turns to a the signature superdrag guitar with no bull lyrics that sting. "I want rock n roll, but i dont wanna deal with the hassel. i know what i know but i dont wanna feel like an a**hole." those are the words that preview the moder power pop classic that is In the Valley of Dying Stars. as the record goes on, power pop explosion of guitar and yelling after another type of song goes on until it hits the almost trippy in the armth of a tomb and is followed by a rock song but then sinks back into melancholy but with hope of better with the song ambulance driver. the song is an ode to davis' grandfather who passed away. davis was very close to him and it shows with his emotional lyrics in the next 2 songs, leaving no music inbetween them for betterness but instead striving to move on through sad music. "ambulance driver, you were out too late, there was nothing you could do, I shouldve done it anyways, if the Word of God is true..." it then goes through some more power pop songs then goes into the live favorite title track in the valley of dying stars. the songs stays with you with its perfect davis vocals and its as always superb lyrics.
"if you don't like superdrag, you dont like rock n roll"

This is a band that has to this date put out only good albums. And a bands like that are few and far between. This album sounds a little different than there other ones but it certainly isn't what you would call a "new sound". This was the first album of superdrag's i bought and it also happened to be the only one i hadn't heard. I wasn;t disppointed at all. Highlights are: True Believer, title track, ambulence driver, and every other song on it.

This band is better then 99.9% of anything out there. It's as if God took everything good about rock and roll and filtered it down into its purest form. This has never been more evident than on In The Valley of Dying Stars. From the first solo guitar strums of Keep It Close To Me to the last powerful uplift of the title track this album is pure rock power. The bluesy twang of Ambulance Driver, the electric surge of Lighting the Way, the beautiful piano melody of Unprepared and the uplifting harmony of The Warmth of a Tomb. This album is as close to perfect as any band could ever hope for. I am scared to death that Superdrag will become popular again. Everyone loves having their one big secret and musically Superdrag is mine. Listening to them and enjoying the music they've created here is like having a million dollars in the bank and not telling a soul. I warn you though, once you listen to them the rest of your music just may not sound quite as good as it once did. But by that time... you won't even care.

The world doesn't have enough real rock music. Yeah, Tool is mighty and rock-rap dominates, but who still really rocks, like when you were a kid (ie. before Nirvana)?

Superdrag has survived the Nirvana inspired onslaught of the early nineties to put out another wonderfully inspired album of power pop. Each song is memorable, uncliched, and meaningful (I suppose since the melodies carry themselves).

I'd recommend this for fans of the mighty Velvet Crush and the great Tommy Keene. No big guitar solos, rap, or mindless doodling. Just honest Replacments inspired pop.

What more do you need? I mean, really???