Phoenix Rising Music

This is a live album, and quite honestly, though I like Lake Trout's work, I don't like this album as a whole. Their live performances today are better than this, and they seem to have come a long way since then, judging from this release. Its seeming lack of direction is too loose and free-flowing for my taste, and the majority of it sounds like an almost exact (though drawn out) mold for what's to come on their following release, Another One Lost, their best album to date. Still, I recommend it for the songs "#2," "I'll Be" (also featured on Volume for the Rest of It) and "Throw Me the Whip." #2 in particular is intense and utterly hypnotic, the best song on the album. In fact, I would sum up the mood of the entire album as reflecting an intense, introspective dive into the unknown. If you like music that takes you to the edge of trippy and weird (in a good way), then you'll appreciate Lake Trout. That said, they really should put out a live album from among their most recent performances and include songs such as "Peel," "Bully," and the untitled songs that are featured on the encoded MP3 version of AOL, some of which are taken from a live performance at XM Satellite Radio in D.C.

These guys are quim. Not jazz. STS9 way more talented.

Lake Trout started as a swoony jazzy thing that reminded me of Sting's _Dream of the Blue Turtles_. Then, a few years ahead of their time, the delved into a drum-n-bass thing that's in evidence in heaps on this release, Alone at Last. It isn't conventional drum n bass, in that it's all live (the drummer is SICK!), but also in that it rocks and rolls harder and farther than most. Excellent stuff!

The band is of course off in another direction. More recently, they're more directly rock, losing the jazzy and electronic edges for something a bit more heavy and fast. Alone at Last is a great taste of them before that transition.

I'm not sure I can add much more than has already been said, but the flow to this album is superb, and DJ Who adds a perfect dimension to the unique Lake Trout sound. While at times the compositions themselves seem a bit weak, the album as a whole is fantastic to listen to, and I had it in my car CD player for three or four days straight, which is pretty amazing considering I have a twenty-minute commute each way to work. I definitely recommend this album for anyone curious as to what the hype is about...Lake Trout mixes the rhythms of drum'n'bass quite well with some of the sounds of more standard indy-rock, while even blending in a little bit of the jazzy aspect to their songs. It's dark, but not brooding, and there is a lot of motion to the album. Definitely a recommended CD to pick up.

Lake Trout is an amazing band. They got the jam/jazz/post rock/minimalist/ambient/electronica vibe going on strong. Blows mediocre comparisons like STS9 out of the water...no pun intended ;)

Yes, R. California (California name given to him by Hendrix to distinguish between the two Randys in his pre-Experience band) lives on. I'm not much of a reviewer, but I've always been a Spirit fan. A lot of their early music was overlooked, but not even close to their later music. This is a sad shame because there is a massive amount of music released after California's death...and more yet to be released. If you are just rediscovering Spirit, check this cd out. It has a great variety of styles (as was Spirit's way from the very beginning) and it is an enjoyable listen. Did I like it all? No, but I did like the majority of it. I'll leave it to that. I'm no music critic and what little I don't like on a cd, someone else will love. Buy this! You'll enjoy most of it if not all...and the stuff you don't enjoy you'll appreciate!

The real highlight of this disc is the batch of live demos from their pre-A&M days. Songs like "Baby, Your Face Is Mutated" and "Never Amount To Nothing/Hermuta" showcase the superb musicianship and wicked humor of this oft-overlooked cult band. These songs best capture the spirit of The Tubes as a live act. The early versions of "Brighter Day" and "White Punks On Dope" aren't as polished as the versions that would find their way onto the first two Tubes records, but what's great about The Tubes isn't always what's "polished".

All of the material on this CD was recorded before the "fame and fortune". We have some demos and some un-released tunes. The un-released material is a display of sheer musical talent. All of these songs appear to be high energy jam sessions that have been polished to a nice tight presentation. Most impressive is the fact that the un-released songs are all done live ( in a small to medium sized club)yet still sound studio "tweaked" as far as band tightness is concerned. The signature changes, lighting quick fills, and off time drumming of Praire is a clinic in dynamic drumming.Fee and the boys sound like they are having way too much fun , I just wish I was one of the few people in the crowd during the taping of these sessions.
If you a moderate to hard core Tubes fan you will love this CD as it`s an timeless documentation of the creation of one of rocks most technical groups. Listen and pick the songs apart for yourself... you`ll agree.

It is amazing that it took so long for this collection of great tunes to come out. This is the album that those of us have wanted to hear for over 20 years. It captures the band before the commercial producers at A&M and Capitol put their spin on what they felt the band "should" sound like. The music is raw and real, it is the closest to the live shows yet released. I hope there will be future volumes of material from this vastly under appreciated band.

Just picked this up the other day. If you're a big Tubes fan you'll want to buy this, but be warned, these are very early recordings from the band's beginnings and is not their best stuff. Early versions of WPOD, Mondo Bondage and Brighter Day are interesting to listen to but the real reason to buy this CD would be to hear the songs that have never before been available. A lot of the subject matter in the lyrics can be found in later Tubes songs (ex. Whiz Quiz/What Do You Want From Life). Musically, these equate with early Tubes albums but lyrically, these songs are strictly the novelty type.

This by far is the best CD the Temptations have made,easy like Sunday morning,this is a must have CD for your collection if you don't have Ear-Resistible this is a must have.

They keep belting out the hits. They have some really good tracks on this CD. It's worth the investment.

There is no doubt that these guys CAN SING, but my MAJOR gripe is whomever WRITES for them needs to REMEMBER that these men are MATURE in age and NOT 20-something!!! The cd is ok, but when I hear them sing a lyric that they are too old to be singing, I cannot take them seriously.

Other than that, there are some decent tracks. Not a total disappointment. Legacy is better though :-)

While it's not quite up to the standard of "Phoenix Rising" I do enjoy this CD. Let's face it, the original lineup ended in 1968, the sound started changing in the 70's, and the Tempts have been evolving ever since. No need to bash the band because they can't conjure up the ghosts of David and Eddie. The new era Temptations do have some serious talent.

I'm glad Otis has kept the group alive. Also -- as noted by the excellent new CD "Legacy" -- Mr. Williams has a great eye for recruiting singing, instrumentation, and producing talent. He has successfully replaced great singers (Theo Peoples for one) with others. The latest and greatest addition is former Spinners front man G.C. Cameron.

On this CD, Terry Weeks clearly is a star. The ballads are tremendous as is "Elevator Eyes" and I particularly like long time tenor extrodinaire Ron Tyson leading "Gotta Get On the Road."

Yes, as noted below, they shouldn't be singing songs about partying and so forth, some are grandparents. I could do without the silly intos and interludes, too, sadly R & B of today is obsessed with that stuff.

But all in all, a great effort by the legendary group, no matter what lineup is singing. Thanks Otis for keeping The Temptations alive!

"Ear-Resistible" continues a trend established with 1998's successful "Phoenix Rising", i.e., a mixture of the group's trademark harmonies with contemporary lyrics and beats. Sole original member Otis Williams, who also served as executive producer, knows the building blocks of the legendary group; thus, these guys know what they are all about. Their voices, while, at times, are reminiscent of the founding members, possess enough individuality to render their own distinctive sound, unlike no other.

The present Temptation quintet is unfairly compared to its predecessors. The reality is that any group that has been in existence for four decades (and counting) and continues to make good music is deserving of praise and support.

The album sports some really strong tracks ("I'm Here", "Your Love", "Elevator Eyes", "Party", "Proven & True", "I'll Just Go Crazy", and the thought-provoking "Error of Our Ways"). Even the "lesser" tracks are worlds above the songs drowning the airwaves of contemporary radio.

Good music, like a fine wine, is hard to find.

One can indulge in the ecstatic elegance of the Temptations.

"Resistence IS futile!"

Strongly recommended to those who like stratovarius, helloween and hammerfall!