Consider the horror/rock torch passed. Alice Cooper ain't getting any younger and as many bands and artists have tried, there is only one who has proved he has what it takes to take up the mantle. I speak of course of former White Zombie frontman Rob Zombie: heavy metal hero, horror filmmaker, master performer, and all around great guy. Having effectively stolen the musical style and persona of Ministry leader Al Jourgensen and twisted it into a horror-loving metalhead's wet dream, I assumed that the breakup of his talented band would be the last I heard of his harsh untrained vocals. Turns out that he needed White Zombie like Cooper needed his original band. This better-than-impressive career retrospective packs some of his greatest and most popular songs with some lesser-known gems and two never-before-released tunes that are at least as good as anything Zombie has done. As an added bonus, you get 10 must-own music videos full of all the ghouls, crazy beats, robots, psychedelia, heavy guitar, and old-school horror love you crave. It doesn't get better than this for horror/rock fanatics.
With masterpieces like "Black Sunshine" (which features vocals from Iggy Pop), "Super Charger Heaven", and "Superbeast" under his belt, it's pretty much impossible to doubt this guy. With songs paying homage to cult classic cinema like A Clockwork Orange ("Never Gonna Stop") and throwing dialogue samples from classics like Faster Pussycat Kill!..kill! ("Thunder Kiss '65"), The Haunting (Supercharger Heaven"), and Daughters of Darkness (Demonoid Phenomenon", here only in video form) and/or pornographic noises into nearly every song it's hard not to love him. Throw in some horror-fied versions of funk classic "I'm Your Boogeyman" and "Brick House" (a duet with Lionel Richie also featuring rapper Trina) and you've got yourself the perfect rockin' Halloween party album. There are mainstream hits like "Living Dead Girl" and "Dragula" (based on The Munsters car) and obscurities like his team-up with Howard Stern, "The Great American Nightmare", and the irresistably-titled "Pussy Liquor". This album is wall-to-wall quality and a perfect tribute to one of the best frontmen in metal.
The videos are an impressive bonus with only a few complaints. Complaint 1: why is "Demonoid Phenomenon" censored? BOOOOOOO! If you want to shoot a perverse live compilation video of girls flashing the stage: fine. But what is the point if we don't get to see? Complaint 2: the Clockwork Orangey mojo of "Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy)" is somewhat spoiled by the tie-in to the crummy remake of "Rollerball". Double boo! That's the end of the bad. The rest is pure gravy. The "Living Dead Girl" video is based on the film of the same name. Obvious, but cool.
So in spite of the fact that he really can't sing (thank Satan for studio effects!), Rob Zombie has risen to prominence as a legendary rock frontman. In spite of his uncompromising love of independent horror, he has succeeded in Hollywood not once, nor twice, but thrice. Not a bad resume for any career. A career that this set encompasses perfectly in a way that will give both hardcore and casual fans something to scream about. Zombie is arguably horror's first true renaissance man. Long may it continue.
Past, Present & Future [w/ Bonus DVD] B0000AVBDS
Rob Zombie
Geffen Records
Past, Present & Future [w/ Bonus DVD]
Music
One of the best metal collections money can buy.
See video on Amazon.com Consider the horror/rock torch passed. Alice Cooper ain't getting any younger and as many bands and artists have tried, there is only one who has proved he has what it takes to take up the mantle. I speak of course of former White Zombie frontman Rob Zombie: heavy metal hero, horror filmmaker, master performer, and all around great guy. Having effectively stolen the musical style and persona of Ministry leader Al Jourgensen and twisted it into a horror-loving metalhead's wet dream, I assumed that the breakup of his talented band would be the last I heard of his harsh untrained vocals. Turns out that he needed White Zombie like Cooper needed his original band. This better-than-impressive career retrospective packs some of his greatest and most popular songs with some lesser-known gems and two never-before-released tunes that are at least as good as anything Zombie has done. As an added bonus, you get 10 must-own music videos full of all the ghouls, crazy beats, robots, psychedelia, heavy guitar, and old-school horror love you crave. It doesn't get better than this for horror/rock fanatics.
With masterpieces like "Black Sunshine" (which features vocals from Iggy Pop), "Super Charger Heaven", and "Superbeast" under his belt, it's pretty much impossible to doubt this guy. With songs paying homage to cult classic cinema like A Clockwork Orange ("Never Gonna Stop") and throwing dialogue samples from classics like Faster Pussycat Kill!..kill! ("Thunder Kiss '65"), The Haunting (Supercharger Heaven"), and Daughters of Darkness (Demonoid Phenomenon", here only in video form) and/or pornographic noises into nearly every song it's hard not to love him. Throw in some horror-fied versions of funk classic "I'm Your Boogeyman" and "Brick House" (a duet with Lionel Richie also featuring rapper Trina) and you've got yourself the perfect rockin' Halloween party album. There are mainstream hits like "Living Dead Girl" and "Dragula" (based on The Munsters car) and obscurities like his team-up with Howard Stern, "The Great American Nightmare", and the irresistably-titled "Pussy Liquor". This album is wall-to-wall quality and a perfect tribute to one of the best frontmen in metal.
The videos are an impressive bonus with only a few complaints. Complaint 1: why is "Demonoid Phenomenon" censored? BOOOOOOO! If you want to shoot a perverse live compilation video of girls flashing the stage: fine. But what is the point if we don't get to see? Complaint 2: the Clockwork Orangey mojo of "Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy)" is somewhat spoiled by the tie-in to the crummy remake of "Rollerball". Double boo! That's the end of the bad. The rest is pure gravy. The "Living Dead Girl" video is based on the film of the same name. Obvious, but cool.
So in spite of the fact that he really can't sing (thank Satan for studio effects!), Rob Zombie has risen to prominence as a legendary rock frontman. In spite of his uncompromising love of independent horror, he has succeeded in Hollywood not once, nor twice, but thrice. Not a bad resume for any career. A career that this set encompasses perfectly in a way that will give both hardcore and casual fans something to scream about. Zombie is arguably horror's first true renaissance man. Long may it continue.
He's got a smoking-hot wife but no children. I actually have a vid for this, but I forgot to upload it before posting and the edit hasn't gone through yet so check back in a day or so for the rest.
So freakin great tman. I love his music, and the fact he has the greatest taste for horror in the world makes him God. I mean Satan. I love his Cabinet of Dr. Caligari adaption. Oh and how did he get such a crazy hot wife? Don't answer that. Your best review ever. Dam I wish I wrote it.
Really!?!? And to think I wasn't pleased with it. If that damn edit would go through there'd be a video featuring my favorite Zombie video and I need to fix that error in the second sentence among others. But if the mighty mighty Mackshere likes it, that's good enough for me.
Nicely done, Trashie. I bought this set back when it came out and I was a little disappointed that it didn't have more of Zombie's early stuff, from La Sexorcisto through The Sinister Urge. Plus, am I the only one who's noticed some racist imagery in his music, as well as on the packaging? The ghosts on Hellbilly Deluxe resemble members of the KKK, and then there's the continual use of the Confederate flag in his music videos, plus of course the Hellbilly title. So what's up with that? Is Robbie a racist or is he failing at being ironic? Either way I'm a huge fan of the music itself, but I want to get to the bottom of it.
As for Ministry, what a f***ing great band! I remember hearing Burning Inside off of The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste album, and being completely blown away by the sheer volume and energy that those guys have. Brilliant!
Have you heard Lard? It's essentially Ministry fronted by the Dead Kennedys Jello Biafra. INSANE! I actually own all of Zombie's albums so I was pleased that they focused on the rarities a little more for this one. I do own the "House of 1000 Corpses" soundtrack and the Ramones tribute with 'Blitzkrieg Bop" on it (TERRIBLE album!), but having them together on one disc with the hits was sweet. Now I just need to get "Escape From L.A" and I think I'll have all of his notable music. To iTunes! Heard White Zombie's cover of "Children of the Grave"? Love it. I've never noticed that racist imagery. The KKK thing could easily be just be a coincidence, after all ghostly was the look the Klan was going for. It seems unlikely Zombie's a racist considering his appreciation of blaxpoitation cinema (often sampled in his music) and who knows what the Confederate flag thing is all about? I suppose I'll have to rewatch he videos and see the context. I can't find any info on almighty Google so if we're to get to the bottom of it, we'll have to ask him ourselves. Interesting observation, my friend.
The only one I own is "Greatest Fits". I'd like to get more, but you know how it is: so much music, so little time and even less money! Any recs would be appreciated.
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