...:::: Rock Reviews - reviews ::::...

Saint Etienne Tiger Bay	1994 - Warner Bros.	"Whether or not Tiger Bay is worth purchasing is a personal decision. Slipping occasionally into indie pop, the album is actually more of a dance and disco recording. If dance isn’t your thing, don’t buy Tiger Bay."
Scissor Sisters Scissor Sisters	2004 - Universal	"Bending genders is only the half of it--they are a slick, enigmatic, theatrical and energetic act that boasts a fine talent for both making and performing oddly kitschy retro yet modern music."
Scissor Sisters Ta-Dah	2006 - Universal	"Bravo to the New York band for once again putting together a highly agreeable group of songs."
Scorpions Crazy World	1990 - Mercury	"This also proved to be the most successful album for the Scorpions. It was also their last successful one as a result of the alterna-grunge movement in the United States."
Screaming Trees Sweet Oblivion	1992 - Epic	"The Screaming Trees really do deserve better. They should have become popular. I guess Lanegan just wasn't as photogenic as Kurt Cobain or Eddie Vedder."
Bob Seger Smokin' O.P.'s	1972/2005 - Capitol	"Smokin’ O.P.’s may not be one of Seger’s most impressive or entertaining albums, but what it lacks have in quantity or originality is made up for in energy."
Semisonic All About Chemistry	2001 - MCA	"No less fascinating the earlier releases, this album once again boasts nicely arranged songs with intelligent lyrics. Vocalist, usual lyricist and guitarist Wilson once again whips up a collection of twelve lovely songs well worth the time, money and effort it takes to own and appreciate any Semisonic album."
Semisonic Feeling Strangely Fine	1998 - MCA	"We all remember the band as having the bar-closing, end of the night hit ”Closing Time”. Alas, there is more to the band than just one hit. So much more."
Semisonic Great Divide	1996 - MCA	"The band found that their traditional rock mixed with some electronic elements and peppered with a keen sense of melody hit a nerve. Not in a huge way, but certainly in an important way."
Semisonic Pleasure [EP]	1995 - Cherrydisc	"Even if their music wasn’t yet perfected and they didn’t have much financial backing, the trio still somehow managed to piece together a work that clued listeners into the kind of band they would one soon become."
Seven Mary Three American Standard	1995 - Atlantic	"American Standard proves without a shadow of a doubt that rock and roll is nothing without good lyrics."
Seven Mary Three Rock Crown	1997 - Atlantic	"Oh yes, it’s hard to believe but 1997’s Rock Crown is bad…so bad that even a free copy of the album isn’t enough to make it worthwhile."
Sevendust Sevendust	1997 - TVT	"I wouldn’t say that Sevendust made the best impression with this first album but it is a fair and not completely offensive release."
Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks	1977 - EMI	"Love them or hate them, the Sex Pistols are a model for dozens upon dozens of angry punk bands that followed. They were loud, unconventional, violent, bizarre, and entertaining."
Shelby Lynne Suit Yourself	2005 - Capitol	"Suit Yourself is precisely the album that Shelby Lynne needed to release. It showcases her heart and songwriting with a distinctly personal touch. This is an enjoyable and immediately relatable album that will likely fit in most music collections."
Shimmer Shimmer	2005 - Cake	"It’s an inspired and completely enjoyable effort. They sound like they’re having more fun than should be allowed and the good vibe translates brilliantly across the ten-tracks of the hip and energetic self-titled released. You’d be hard pressed to find a better, freer, and more gratifying summer album this year."
The Shins Oh, Inverted World	2001 - Sub Pop	"They're indie, they're emotional, they're pop, and they are just plain cool. The world seems better with The Shins in it."
Sigur Ros ( )	2002 - MCA	"Am I impressed by their attempts at entertaining the masses? Not in the least. Instead I find myself nauseous from overly trite melodies and unoriginal musical ideas."
Silverchair Frogstomp	1995 - Epic	"The Australian fifteen year olds produced a clean and concise sound that was something akin to grunge…only sleeker and more user-friendly than the version overpowering airwaves just a few years earlier."
Simple Minds Glittering Prize	1992 - A&M	"...the funny thing is that while their music is incredibly recognizable, their name often goes forgotten. Should Simple Minds be lost in the decade of spandex, neon, and bangles? Most definitely not."
Frank Sinatra Only The Lonely	1958 - Capitol	"I find the songs to be comfortable and unchallenging. So while on some levels Sinatra has stretched himself, these songs aren’t entirely unexpected nor do they make me think outside of feeling excruciatingly sorry for myself."
Skid Row Forty Seasons	2001 - Atlantic	"It's a retrospective of sorts highlighting sixteen hits, misses, unreleased songs, remixes and live tracks. In all honesty, they could've narrowed the album down even further. Some of the tracks really bite."
Slaughter Mass Slaughter	1995 - Capitol	"If you’re looking to complete your hair metal “Greatest Hits” collection then make this addition. If you’re looking for consistency, intelligence, and individuality…well…let the (S)laughter ensue."
Sleater-Kinney One Beat	2002 - Kill Rock Stars	"One Beat never becomes stale or dry. From introductory thumping drum beats of the title track to the southern rock guitar of Sympathy, this is an important album to say the very least."
The Slip Eisenhower	2006 - Bar/None	"I don't think it is the most creative thing to ever have happened in music but it also isn't the most derivative. The biggest compliment I can pay this album is that it is listenable. Excellent? Naw. But listenable."
Sloan One Chord To Another	1996 - Murder	"Sloan’s third full-length album is a truly worthwhile listening experience—especially to fans of melodic, passionate, earnest pop-rock."
Smashing Pumpkins 1979 [single]	1996 - Virgin	"As for the five other songs contained on this 1996 EP most are far better than the single. Ugly, The Boy and Cherry immediately follow 1979 in that order and are fortunately infinitely better."
Smashing Pumpkins Bullet With Butterfly Wings [single]	1995 - Virgin	"As with all singles, there is nothing essential about Bullet with Butterfly Wings. Both included tracks are excellent, but unless you are seeking to finish off your Smashing Pumpkins discography it is still best advised to check out their albums rather than singles..."
Smashing Pumpkins Cherub Rock [single]	1993 - Virgin	"...it’s not at all a necessary recording."
Smashing Pumpkins Gish	1991 - Virgin	"Gish is by no means a masterpiece but does shed some light on the pre Siamese Dream Corgan and company."
Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness	1995 - Virgin	"...at times the album’s grandeur seems overwrought and exaggerated, thus weighing down the intended message."
Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream	1993 - Virgin	"...album’s sales did indeed mirror the quality of the material. This is a very rare occurrence in modern music."
Smashing Pumpkins Thirty Three [EP]	1996 - Virgin	"I am both impressed and disappointed. There is clearly a reason why many of the songs included were left off of albums. They just simply are not as good as a general rule."
Smashing Pumpkins Tonight Tonight [EP]	1996 - Virgin	"Tonight, Tonight is not one of the best Smashing Pumpkins by a long shot. I remember thinking the band had “sold out” when the single was released. In the context of this haphazard little release I’m no more impressed by the effort."
Smashing Pumpkins Zero [EP]	1996 - Virgin	"It’s hard not to adore (sorry for the bad pun) a band able to so freely rock out without ignoring melody and lyrics and vocals in favor of grinding guitars."
Elliott Smith XO	1998 - Dreamworks	"On one level, XO is a pop album complete with beautiful melodies and memorable arrangements. This is the part of Smith that likely appeals to the widest audience. Though, it takes very little effort to realize that the songs contained here ooze a deep, profound sadness."
Smiths Singles	1995 - Reprise	"I expected something more impressive than what I got. It’s an average album that in my opinion could have been shorter. A whole lot shorter."
Sneaker Pimps Becoming X	1997 - Virgin	"The album as a whole is one of the better of the trip-hop movement and deserves a slot in any indie pop, electronica, or trip-hop collection."
Snow Patrol Final Straw	2004 - Universal	"Having apparently been creatively inspired by his semi-successful side project, Lightbody and his three bandmates assembled twelve ballads marked by sparkly, appealing, gentle, acoustically conscious, evocative pop."
Solex Pick Up	1999 - Matador	"The key to the musical success of Esselink’s vision is that she’s obviously having a great deal of fun. Her lyrics flow easily from her silky throat. The multiple records that back her at every tempo while she sings surround her easily and beautifully."
Solex Low Kick and Hard Bop	2001 - Matador	"Esselink takes forgotten, lackluster, and wholly regrettable music and turns it into something new and wonderful with the help of her innovation and mixing board."
Son Volt A Retrospective: 1995-2000	2005 - Rhino	"...the 20-track Retrospective is a mixed bag that is as brilliant as it is flawed, as luminous as it is dim."
Sonic Youth Daydream Nation	1988 - DGC	"I can’t help but appreciate Sonic Youth for their ability to create this kind of purposeful masterpiece. Few bands, with their many facets, can successfully assemble this kind of tour de force."
Soul Asylum Grave Dancers Union	1992 - Columbia	"It was clear by the time it was released in 1992 that the formerly underground Minneapolis band had all but ditched their rock root in favor of a more pop slant. For better or for worse, this is what got Soul Asylum noticed."
Soul Asylum Let Your Dim Light Shine	1995 - Columbia	"... that they can't really make songs that sound different from one another."
Soul Coughing El Oso	1998 - Slash	" Prepare to be shocked and enlightened. Prepare to be entertained and to think intensely about the multi-layered tracks. Prepare to experience something very unlike anything else you’ve ever heard."
Soul Coughing Irresistible Bliss	1996 - Slash	"It's a fun album with not much that's too profound. Just fun, an interesting, and innovative."
Soul Coughing Ruby Vroom	1994 - Warner Bros.	"Soul Coughing doesn’t sacrifice their talent in favor of pleasing the masses. The band is making music to please themselves, and in doing so have pleased the masses."
Soundgarden Superunknown	1994 - A&M	"This album went on to earn the band two (yes, two) Grammy awards. This was quite an impressive accomplishment for a simple ‘grunge’ band."
The Sounds Living In America	2003 - New Line	"...setting the band apart from the other “the” bands also is the fact that they clearly owe a lot to bubbly eighties new wave and dance. But with the toning down of synths and addition of drums and guitars The Sound creates their own sound and in turn their own niche market."
Soup Dragons Hotwired	1992 - Big Life	"With twelve songs, Hotwired is a perfect length. Just long enough to gain the attention of listeners, but just short enough to not bore them to elephant tears."
Space Spiders	1997 - Universal	"Clearly taking a hint from the Beatles not to mention Suede, Space is funky and fantastic when they are at their best. At the worst, the band is just, well, boring and contrived."
Space Monkeys The Daddy of Them All	1997 - Factory	"The band’s confidence shines through every track. They know what they are doing, and they know that they are doing it well."
Spacehog Resident Alien	1996 - Sire	"Don't expect rockin' guitars like those from American alternative in 1996. Rather, expect more mellow, fun, and interesting music."
Spacehog The Chinese Album	1998 - Sire	"The band didn’t flop, their style didn’t change too drastically, and their main goal didn’t morph into something completely unpalatable. Spacehog tread water…and treading water is better than the majority of second albums manage."
Spacehog The Hogyssey	2001 - Artemis	"I can't help but think that The Hogyssey is a misguided attempt at reclaiming the band's early chart success."
Spin Doctors Pocket Full of Kryptonite	1991 - Epic	"There are songs that are infectious, groovy, and lyrically brilliant. Then again, there are tracks that are repetitive and lack any real drive."
Spin Doctors Homebelly Groove	1992 - Epic	"Homebelly Groove helps to solidify my general rule that live albums are unnecessary, money-grubbing moves by bands that by and large don’t have the talent to off this kind of album."
Spiritualized Amazing Grace	2003 - Sanctuary	"I expected something glorious and round and whole but was instead rewarded with nothing new and something that is all too often repetitive and dry."
Spiritualized Let It Come Down	2000 - Arista	"...an excellently entertaining album—made particularly special by the forays into various subgenres from ambient pop to space rock and from psychedelia to dream pop."
Sponge Rotting Pinata	1994 - Work	"Sponge doesn’t pull any punches—this is rock n’ roll as pure and concise as it could be in the mid part of the last decade. With an organic but adventurous sound that is reminiscent of 70’s rock, Wax Ecstatic should appeal to a variety of rock fans."
Sponge Wax Ecstatic	1996 - Sony	"There is no question that Sponge popped up as a result of the alternative movement, but fortunately they did have more going for them than just fad. They are rock & rollers at heart."
Sponge The Man	2005 - Idol	"The Man is definitely going to be well received by fans and is better than average fare even if it is somewhat shoddily produced."
Stabbing Westward Wither Blister Burn + Peel	1996 - Columbia	"...too repetitive, too cliche, and too darned boring. If you want to listen to industrial, even the worst nine inch nails is better than this."
Stars Heart	2003 - Arts & Crafts	"Stars, a product of Toronto, manage to add a bit of zing to the usually very mellow and modest subgenre of chamber pop."
Stereo MC's Connected	1992 - Gee Street	"While the funky, fun romp of Connected might not be for all listeners, it is an album that should not be ignored."
Stereo MC's Deep Down and Dirty	2001 - Island	"...a fun, punchy, and completely enjoyable dance/trip-hop/alternative album... "
Stereolab Emperor Tomato Ketchup	1996 - Elektra	"The thing that is most isolating about the album is Sadier’s vocals sung almost totally in French. At times and English word or two slips in but unless you understand Francais, it seems that much of the lyrics are gibberish. Gibberish, yes, but the album is emotional and intelligent."
Stereolab Sound-Dust	2001 - Elektra	"I at times am lost in its concept and bored by the lengthy compositions. Though, I always find myself comforted by the extremely creative and boundlessly innovative nature of Stereolab."
Stereophonics Just Enough Education To Perform	2001 - V2	"J.E.E.P. touches on a number of slightly varied influences. Certainly, the straight ahead rock is still present, but so is a touch of alternative, soul, blues, and pop (gasp!). And while I completely get the fact that the Stereophonics are trying to be something different than the vast majority of UK acts, their sound on J.E.E.P. is still pretty mediocre and rather old-hat for Americans."
Stereophonics Performance & Cocktails	1999 - V2	"The songs and the band fit in nicely with the faceless, untalented glut of post-grunge rock-take it or leave it."
Steve Miller Band Greatest Hits 1974-78	1978 - Capitol	"If you buy just one Steve Miller Band album, make it this one."
Sufjan Stevens Greetings from Michigan	2003 - Asthmatic Kitty	"This is a magical album that really pays homage to a state that has fallen on hard times, but that still perseveres. Sufjan Stevens captures the honesty, integrity, and bits of trivia that make Michigan such a unique place to live."
Sufjan Stevens Seven Swans	2004 - Sounds Familyre	"The overall effect of the album is a cross between the aforementioned alt-country singer-songwriter Jim White and the Scottish chamber pop outfit Belle & Sebastian. For that reason alone, I think that Sufjan Stevens wields a talent that will appeal to a very wide variety of listeners."
Stone Roses Complete Stone Roses	1995 - Silvertone	"But this incomplete compilation is a joke. I reiterate: their record label wanted to make money and to capitalize on the early success of the band without spoiling the mood with the negatively received Second Coming."
Stone Roses Second Coming	1994 - Geffen Goldline	"If you see this on the rack at the CD store, pick it up and hide it over in the New Age or Adult Contemporary section. Make sure no unsuspecting music lovers get their paws on Second Coming."
Stone Temple Pilots Core	1992 - Atlantic	"Dean DeLeo's guitar work is undeniably interesting while Weiland's vocals are grinding and pained."
Stone Temple PIlots No. 4	1999 - Atlantic	"The album is in actuality a return to the lightly metal-edged style best explored earlier on Core. While I have a great deal of love and sentiment attached to Core, Four lacks that close emotional attachment."
Stone Temple Pilots Purple	1994 - Atlantic	"This album continues in the same vein as the aforementioned debut. In fact, it is arguably the better of the first two albums."
Stone Temple Pilots Revolution [single]	2001 - Atlantic	"The music is of course inspirational and wonderful, but the fact that both STP and Atlantic Records are donating all profits to charity is staggering."
Stone Temple Pilots Tiny Music...	2001 - Atlantic	"The biggest problem with Shangri-La Dee Da is that it doesn’t change anything from No. 4. STP was never content to rest on their laurels in the past, but Shangri-La Dee Da does just that. It settles for a formula that wasn’t even successful on the previous effort."
Stone Temple Pilots Tiny Music...	1996 - Atlantic	"It yielded a few hits, but it was a blah album to many fairweather friends and critics. Good album. Not great. Just good."
Stone Temple Pilots Thank You	2003 - Atlantic	"Early in their career they were accused of trying to be Pearl Jam. Of course, in retrospect nothing could be further from the truth."
Stone Temple Pilots Unglued	1994 - Atlantic	"The band is unafraid to shake things up (when it suits them best) and to make music that sounds very different than other bands yet remaining appealing to most rock listeners."
The Stooges The Stooges (Remaster)	1969/2005 - Elektra/Rhino	"The Stooges made music so simple it was brilliant. The songs may not be deep or thoughtful, but they definitely kick ass."
Strokes Is This It	2001 - RCA	"If you're going to write and include songs that clock in at about three minutes they should be punchy and exciting."
Suede Suede	1993 - Nude	"Suede took the ideas previously explored by acts like Manchester’s Stone Roses and The Smiths, tossed in a dash of David Bowie and expounded brilliantly. There is no question as to why this disc was so perfect and appealing from the start."
Suede Dog Man Star	1994 - Nude	"It speaks directly to a very dark and lonely place in my heart. Regardless of how strange this album may seem on the first listen or two, it imbeds itself in your head and in the end perfect."
Suede Head Music	1999 - Nude	"Perhaps the most troubling of my many qualms is that the album is very, very predictable."
Sugar Ray The Best of Sugar Ray	2005 - Rhino	"Once again, Sugar Ray is not necessarily my usual cup o’ tea but I can’t deny certain truths including the fact that they have recorded some incredibly catchy songs. Great? Naw. Perfect? No way. But in the case of pop, neither is really that important."
Sugarcubes Life's Too Good	1988 - Elektra	"It digs deeply into the skin and leaves the heart dancing. The album is on the whole impressive…discounting of course the fact that Einar isn’t much of a singer. Bjork is the star of this show. All eyes…errr ears…are focused precisely where they should be—on unique and lively singer."
Sugarcubes The DVD	2006 - Rhino	"It has flaws, there are very few extras and the sound sometimes leaves something to be desired, but it is still highly entertaining and rather inclusive. I personally enjoy getting an in-depth glimpse of the unpredictable and vaguely insane woman who would come to revolutionize the world of electronic music in the 1990s."
Super Furry Animals Rings Around The World	2001 - XL Recordings	"Unfortunately, what is overwhelmingly obvious is that while the tracks are lazy, the band themselves thinks themselves more profound than necessary."
Superdrag Head Trip In Every Key	1998 - Elektra	"Even if the band’s debut was the most successful monetarily...their second album Head Trip In Every Key to be the most musically perfect."
Supergrass In It For The Money	1997 - Capitol/EMI	"The reason why America barely heard it had more to do with the fact that there were no immediately obvious hit singles."
Supergrass Life On Other Planets	2002 - Island	"...the album that Supergrass needed to make in order to solidify their importance to British music."
Supergrass Mary Pt. 2 [single]	2000 - Island	"I’m not keen on the whole “releasing multiple discs for the same song with slightly different track listings” thing. I realize that in the UK it is common and a necessary evil, but it doesn’t translate well here."
Supergrass Supergrass	2000 - Island	"The other two Supergrass LP’s are definitely of a higher quality than this one."
Survivor Ultimate Survivor	2004 - BMG Heritage	"It showcases a band’s biggest hits and most popular songs—whether they are good or bad, dated or timely. The fact that Ultimate Survivor portrays the band with flaws is refreshing."
Matthew Sweet 100% Fun	1995 - Zoo	"Sweet is by no means a Bob Dylan, but he is a singer-songwriter in the purest sense of the definition."
Matthew Sweet Altered Beast	1993 - Zoo	"And it’s not so bad you remember it out of hate, but not good enough to remember it out of admiration."
Matthew Sweet Blue Sky On Mars	1997 - Zoo	"As a whole, it’s an okay outing, but lacks the intensity and vision of some of Sweet’s earlier outings."
Matthew Sweet Girlfriend	1991 - Zoo	"...the tracks seamlessly drift into one another. Girlfriend is one of those rare albums in which every track adds to an overall impression and emotion."
Matthew Sweet In Reverse	1999 - Volcano	"The songs should build on one another and the whole of the album should equate to more than the sum of the parts. This is, of course, not the case here."

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