Customer Reviews

Villains

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

This is my second review of the CD Villains. After reading some of the other reviews of the CD, I felt I should add on to my last one. For those who gave this CD 2 stars or less, I guess it's not your kind of music. The Verve Pipe doesn't scream and swear at the top of their lungs while playing ear throbbing metal rock. These guys play amazing rock/alternative, with strong chorus', superb lyrics, and amazing vocals and instrumentals. They are probably the most telented band I know of. I rank them musically with Dave Mathews Band. This CD is terrific. It gets better with each listen. The more it plays in your head, the more impressed you get. I play this CD al the way through and never have to skip a track. It is amazing, you dont find too many CD's like this. Barely, Drive You Mild, Villains,Reverand Girl, Cup of Tea, Myself, The Freshman, Ominous Man, and Real all rank 5 stars for me, and the last 3 are still pretty darn good, entering a slower sound. To give this CD under 3 stars is an injustice, especially when the review ends with remarks such as, "These guys are really bad." These guys are amazing. They may not be you cup of tea, but no matter what angel you look at from, they are fantastic musicians and masters of their craft. Brian Vander Ark has one of the greatest voices ever, and the guitars and drums and bass are awesome. These guys are way more than 3 stars.

I bought this cd back in the bands mainstream heyday with the Freshmen and really enjoyed the whole album (97 I think, and the freshmen is probably my least favorite song on here). It got a lot of play in my cd player at the time. Quite a few years have past, and I own like 600 cd's, so I haven't listened to this album in a while. A couple days ago I popped it back in my player and it sounds better than ever. And it still sounds fresh. I almost forgot how good this album is. This is one of those albums you can just put in, push play and let the whole thing go without having to skip over tracks. Highly recommended!

That's right. There are NO bad songs on VILLIANS, with the possible exception of "Freshman" because we've all heard it about 5,000 times on the radio. This is what alternative music is supposed to sound like - thick, intertwining guitars, hard and meaningful vocals, solid rythmn and bass section.

Seriously, if I tried to name my favorites, I would end up naming the entire album. I've owned it for 4 years now, and it always finds its way back into my CD player. Brian has got a great voice, great music/lyric writing ablility, and a great band backing him. My personal favorite is REVEREND GIRL, which dueling guitars wrap around beautiful lyrics: "We are for today/ we are for the moment/ we are a crusade/ but we are invalid/ one a.m. rummaging/ stain my hands on her antique/ two a.m."

See the Verve Pipe live if you get a chance, also. They never miss a beat, have great rapport with the crowd, and always close with scorching renditions of Beatles songs (i.e. Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds, Strawberry Fields Forever, etc.).

A fivesome from Michigan's short but detailed existence had its climax back in the summer/fall of 1997. As "Photograph," the first single from The Verve Pipe's release, "Villians" hit the air waves, something came over alternative music fans. The uncessing itch for perfected alternative rock was satisfied.

Several came to the knowledge of this amazing band, whose character traits included threaded bass lines, clean-cut guitar riffs, and sweetly harmonized pop vocals, through their second and more successful single "The Freshman." The song was a agonizing take on the pressures of young adult life, epitomized by unwanted pregnancy, suicide, and lacking relationships. And though the listening audience chose to focus on the individual song, leaving the REAL band basically underexposed, it remains today a classic moment in musical history.

The rest of the album, underestimated by the masses, was nearly flawless when it hit music stores in that summer of '97. The opening track, "Barely (if at all)" opened waking souls to the possibilities to rock music, proving that great music doesn't have to be superficial or meaningless to the philisophical listener. "Drive you Mild," bore a similar effect on those pacient enough to hear its masterpiece of irony. Though the album produced several singles- "Cup of Tea," "Villians," "Freshman," and "Photograph"- the best songs were the lesser known counterparts to the singles, slipping through the cracks due to incredulity. They still ring true, despite lack of attention and paled enthusiasm. They include more ironical takes on the superficiality of morals in "Reverend Girl;" or the human mind's supplication to defeat, but potential for tyranny in "Ominous Man." And the two songs "Cattle" and "Veneer" left fans spell-bound and hopeful. They would continue to look on awe-struck, stopping only to reflect on the tranquility and peace of mind that music can bring, when its power is not abused and its lyrics can provide an introspective view of an individual life. Collectively, this was one of the greatest musical moments that modern listeners would be priveledged to hear.

I first saw the Verve Pipe when I was a high school senior in Grand Rapids, MI. I had heard their stuff on the radio, and my friends and I always pretended to follow the burgeoning local GR music scene back then, with names like Troll for Trout, Milkhouse, Domestic Problems (AWESOME!), and Fat Amy, but I had never seen them perform and could only name three of their songs.

The concert was put on by 97.9 WGRD and MTV in response to MTV having been pulled out of the second-largest market in the entire state of Michigan. It was a free show, hosted by then-celebrity Matt Pinfield. Hoarse, a Detroit-based metal band opened, followed by 19 Wheels (still my favorite band of all time) from East Lansing, a then-unknown Semisonic (this is long before "Closing Time") from Milwaukee, and then local music gods The Verve Pipe. I was hooked for life. I saw them 14 more times in the next four years. I even had my first drink in a bar with Brian at The Intersection in Eastown, Grand Rapids, MI.

When I first bought "Villains," I didn't like it. I can admit to that openly. I listened to it a couple of times through and then filed it away in my local music folder for a couple of years. Last year, now 6 years since I'd seen their concert, I pulled it back out and started to listen to it again. It has been in my CD changer ever since.

The songs are complex and meaningful, with real social commentary, and are not overproduced. The title track is particularly poignant, as it talks about the celebrity we reward the most villainous with and the anonymity of the victims. The rest of the album follows suit, with throbbing (but not obnoxiously loud) guitars, solid drumming, and Brian Vander Ark's INCREDIBLE vocal prowess making appearances on each successive hit. My personal favorites are Penny is Poison and Veneer, the hidden track that drove concert-goers CRAZY each time it was played live, similar to what happens at DMB concerts when he plays Watchtower.

Buy this album, listen to it long and carefully - repeatedly if you have to. You will appreciate that it gets better each time.

This album came out while I was in middle school, and I'm not sure I listened to much else back then. I originally purchased the album for "The Freshmen," but I think it's now the least-listened to song (thanks to the overplaying of it on the radio). My music collection has added several thousand songs since then, but I still find I listen to this album more than just about anything else. The transition they make from gentle gentle lyricism to surging melodies and back again has given me a true appreciation of versatility at a time when there's so much that sounds the same. The Verve Pipe has a truly original sound that just can't be duplicated.

this album came out in the year when alternitive ruled the music world. the verve pipe is a very cool band. the music is really great and they are very fan friendly. i remember being apart of the fan club, they had a number on inside of this CD to call to speak with band members and i left a message and one of the band members called me back! now that is what i called getting in touch with your fans. sorry though, i think they stopped putting that number there when their fan base increased so you had to be one of the very first to buy the cd. i was one :)

as far as this album. the song photograph was the first single from this album that just totally blew my mind away! it was awesome. then the verve pipe became really popular with the mainstream "the freshman." my high school anthem! i was 15 when this album came out.

and the song "cup of tea" is just awesome and "villians" is great. i think this is the verve pipe truly best effort. this is a must have of the alternitive world. if you love alternitive, you will love this album!

Those who gave this album one star obviously do not know what beautiful rock music is. I bought this album when "Photograph", the first single came out. I really enjoyed the album but didn't really get into it. Three years later, I recently played the album because I hadn't listened to it in a while. Now, I can't stop playing it. This is an amazing album from beginning to end. My favorite tracks are "Veneer", "Ominous Man", "Photograph", "Myself" "Villians" and "Reverend Girl". Those who feel that "The Freshman" was the only good song on the album should stick with Matchbox 20, Hootie and the Blowfish and other lightweight wanna-be rockers. Let the real rock musicians play. I can't wait for their new album, which comes out next month.

Although this album has not recieved as much play time in my CD player as "I've Suffered a Head Injury" it is a great album and one of the TVP's finest efforts. Although this is "The Freshman's" third incarnation I would say it is not one of thier best versions. I am not sure when Brian and co. will be happy with this song, but nontheless it is on the album.

The finest song on this album is Cattle. You can almost feel the drive on HWY 31 that Brian is taking you on in this song. If you are not from Michigan or never been - you need to take 31 from south to north in the fall and put this song on. You will feel every note in the sights and smells that pass you by. Now that I love outside of Michigan this song makes me miss home.

Songs like "Drive you Mild", "Reverend Girl", and "Cup of Tea" are all worth the price of the album individually.

This was TVP's first real album to get airplay and I am not sure why thier career did not take off to the moon. I think it was Brian's unwillingness to write songs that the pop culture will easily be able to soundbite. I think this has caused some tension in the band over the years. I think Donnie (the drummer) would like to write more pop friendly songs and I think Brian would not. Perhaps Donnie's style of songwriting would garner more popularity but I for one am happy they have stayed the way they are. A perfect mix of catchy songs and deep writing.

TF

Villains was the first CD that I purchased of the Verve Pipe and have since purchased three more of their CD's because of what a strong first impression Villains gives off. The strongest track is "The Freshmen" which even those who gave the CD negative reviews raved about. However, the CD has much more to offer. Every song is unique in its lyrics and beat; it has soemthing for everybody. If you are a new listener and have yet to purchace a CD by the Verve Pipe, i strongly reccomend Villains. If you have purchased other CD's of theirs and are looking for another, Villains is a great choice!