Alien Ant Farm - Anthology
Released March 6th, 2001
Dryden Mitchell, Terry Corso, Tye Zamora, Mike Cosgrove
Genre: Alternative metal
Suggested by Jake
Intro
I figured I would write the intro to this one before actually listening to the album for once. I'll be completely honest, when Jake suggested Alien Ant Farm, my mind was thrown back to the mid 2000s, cause all I ever heard on the radio was Smooth Criminal. I have obviously heard that song a million times, and I've heard Movies like... once. Anyway, this should be REALLY interesting because I know ZERO about this band, so let's get into it. What are my thoughts? Check it out.
Thoughts & Feelings?
This album makes me feel like I'm listening to a compilation of the most played 2000s songs on planet earth. I feel like I'm a kid again in the car with the radio going, on my way to the waterpark or something like that. This is literally like 90% of the 2000s sounded like. Idk man don't ask me to elaborate further.
I won't lie, I do not like this album. Every song is a super generic hard rock song, it's barely metal. Sorry Jake and sorry anyone that likes this album, that's completely fine- but this one isn't for me. I've already made up my mind I'm just not big into these boys. I want something a little tastier, and these songs feel pretty copy and paste to me. The songs rely so heavy on the vocals that it just gives me bad vibes. I want more interesting and creative ways to make music.
Also quick reminder- please put more instruments in punk rock and metal songs. I fucking love that shit. That's one of the things these songs could use. I need more creative energy rather than just making songs that sound like what you think people want to hear at the time.
Smash or Pass?
Courage - Smash. The intro riff is VERY sexy. This really wasn't what I was expecting to be honest. This sounds fucking awesome. I literally can hear the 2000s in this song. This sounds like some shit that would be on NHL. One of these songs probably is, to be honest. This song rocks pretty fucking hard, but I don't think I'd put it in a playlist. It's pretty fucking cool though. Sounds like a pretty average heavy rock song, and it works pretty nicely.
Movies - SMASH. This one I have definitely heard, I'm picturing the music video right now. Yeah this one is super fucking catchy. It's hard for me to explain this but this literally sounds like 2001, not that I remember very much of it- I was 4 years old. But I do remember the radio during that era, I used to listen to 102.1 the Edge before it went to shit- these kind of songs were constantly played. Yeah anyway this song is great. I don't know if I'd put it in my playlist- MAYBE. But it's great nonetheless.
Flesh and Bone - Smash. Based on the title I was really excited to listen to this one, but it's definitely not as heavy as it advertises to be. Yeah this is another pretty generic hard rock song, it's getting difficult for me to believe this is a metal band. It sounds more like heavy alternative rock. I'm not too crazy about this one but it gets the job done. Interesting bridge section.
Whisper - SMASH. Now we're talking. This is much more metal than the last few songs. This song starts out really great. This is easily the heaviest song so far, so I'm pretty stoked about that. A bit of raspy screaming is always a welcome as well. Yeah so far this is my favourite song but I'm not super super into it. Would I put this one into my playlist? Another MAYBE. It just doesn't have anything spectacular going for it- just a fair metal song.
Summer - SMASH. This one is the same where it's very metal sounding. Ooo I really enjoy this one. It's the same problem though where it's just pretty generic and doesn't have anything spectacular to shine about. It's like all of these songs so far are good songs but they're not great songs, they need just a LITTLE more. I can't quite tell what's missing just yet, maybe it's because these songs are relying so heavily on the vocals which are pretty mid. This song is kinda cool how it uses the seasons as lyrics. That's kinda neat I suppose.
Sticks And Stones - SMASH. This one is definitely starting off VERY fucking strong. This one is extremely heavy on the sexy guitar riff, and I love that. I need more of THAT, but then it just goes in the most predictable path. If you want me to be honest, all of these songs start off super strong because they rely on the instruments, and then they kind of take a backseat to the vocals and it makes me sad. Everything is just so predictable.
Attitude - Smash. The fuck is this? The guitar riff at the beginning is so odd, but not in a good way. It's almost distracting. What the fuck is this song. Yeah another pretty generic rock song that I kind of just zoned out to be honest. The harmonics are kinda cool. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood but I'm honestly bored with these songs. I want less vocals and more oomph.
Stranded - SMASH. Okaaayyyyy now we're fucking talking. Please don't be predictable this time I want this one to be good. It's ALMOST generic, this one has WAY more elements to enjoy, so I like this one a lot. Yeah I am big into this song it's great. I would even consider throwing this in my playlist, but I won't because it'll remind me of this album.
Wish - Smash. This is much more heavy, I love the fucking tone on this song. It just falls flat, as I had expected it to do. I just want something different, something interesting and creative rather than the same rock songs over and over and over and over and over again. WOAH WAIT never mind they're throwing a crazy good breakdown in there. That's what I'm talking about, bring creative elements like THAT in these songs. More of THAT please.
Calico - Smash. At this point I'm just kinda tired of these songs. Every single song starts off with some badass riff, and then immediately goes into the most expected and common chord progression, and then returns to the same intro riff and flips back and forth between basic progressions that I just don't have any feeling for anymore.Maybe I'm putting too much pressure on the vocalist. I'm gonna shit on everybody here, sorry. The drums suck. They're so basic, the bass I haven't been able to hear like at all, turn that shit up and play around. Do more. Maybe it's not their fault either, maybe it's the processing. No idea.
Happy Death Day - Smash. I really have no idea what to say anymore. This song is okay, but I'm not really super into it. Maybe it's just the vocals on this one that kinda bother me.
Smooth Criminal - SMASH. Shoutout to MJ. I mean yeah this a great song, and it's definitely the creative juice that I crave so fucking much but it's not enough to save this album. I've heard this song thousands of times so by this point I'm not super into it but it's a great song. They did a pretty good job covering this one. The chorus kinda bothers me though because of the high pitch singing but whatever.
Universe - Smash. Yeah I mean what more can I say that I already haven't said? Same problem, though this one is much slower. It feels like the last song of the album. Makes sense.
Conclusion
Yes, every song is a smash. But that's because they don't SUCK. These songs do not suck, they are good songs it's just the don't have enough going for them for me to really be like "I fucking LOVE this song, this song is INCREDIBLE'. They all sound identical to each other because of how the songs are structured. I want some creative juice instead of using the most obvious direction possible for each song.
RANK: B-
Sorry if I offended any Alien Ant Farm stans on this one, this album just wasn't for me. That's okay, not everything is gonna land. If you like these songs, that's great- all the power to you. What do you guys think of this one? Let me know below!
- Sharky
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