[Reviews] Latest CD, DVD, guitar amplifiers, electric, bass and acoustic guitars, guitar and bass effects reviews from Ultimate-Guitar.Com. en-us Copyright ©1998-2005 Ultimate-Guitar.Com. All rights reserved. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/ webmaster@ultimate-guitar.com Thu, 08 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT Fri, 16 May 2008 08:38:28 GMT 60 Ultimate-Guitar.Com http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/img/logo_rss.gif http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/ 164 44 http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/death_cab_for_cutie/narrow_stairs/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: May 13, 2008
Label: Atlantic/WEA
Genres: Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Alternative Pop/ Rock
Number Of Tracks: 11
After spending the better part of a decade in the musical minor leagues, Death Cab for Cutie went pro with 2005's Plans, a record whose optimism and Technicolor sound gave the band enough leverage to finally enter the mainstream.]]> Compact Discs Fri, 16 May 2008 08:38:28 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/goldfinger/hello_destiny/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: Apr 22, 2008
Label: Side One Dummy
Genres: Alternative Pop/ Rock, Ska-Punk, Punk-Pop
Number Of Tracks: 12
Sixth album Hello Destiny sees the renowned punk/ ska band Goldfinger return to their roots.]]> Compact Discs Fri, 16 May 2008 08:20:01 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/plectra/legends/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: 2008
Genres: Rock
Number Of Tracks: 10
The songs all sound too similar, too depressing, and too monotonous, which is frustrating as there is a lot of potential with Plectra.]]> Compact Discs Thu, 15 May 2008 10:35:51 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/asia/phoenix/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: Apr 15, 2008
Label: Era
Genres: Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Album Rock, Arena Rock
Number Of Tracks: 13
Like the Phoenix of the title of their 2008 album, Asia has risen from the ashes and made their first studio album with their original lineup in a quarter century.]]> Compact Discs Thu, 15 May 2008 09:09:51 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/nine_inch_nails/the_slip/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: May 5, 2008
Label: Null
Genres: Rock
Number Of Tracks: 10
The Slip is impressive in the way that it experiments with electronic elements and the shape of the rhythms, which sometimes are non-existent like in the vapid tones of “Corona Radiata.” ]]> Compact Discs Wed, 14 May 2008 08:44:18 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/tantric/the_end_begins/index.html Compact Discs: Label: Silent Majority Group
Genres: Rock
Number Of Tracks: 11
"The End Begins" truly closes the door of what Tantric used to be and shows rock fans everywhere what can be done with talent, passion, and a unique take on what modern rock 'n' roll should sound like.]]> Compact Discs Wed, 14 May 2008 08:37:16 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/king_diamond/abigail/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: May 1987
Label: RoadRunner
Genres: Progressive Metal, Thrash, Heavy Metal, Neo-Classical Metal
Number Of Tracks: 13
Widely recognized as King Diamond's solo masterpiece, Abigail is also unquestionably one of heavy metal's greatest concept albums. A passion for dark-themed theatrics had always qualified the work of the man formerly known as Kim Bendix Petersen before this release.]]> Compact Discs Wed, 14 May 2008 08:09:50 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/guitar_amplifiers/crate/v18-212/index.html Guitar Amplifiers: The Crate V18 212 combo features a single-channel, Class A design with gain and master volume controls, 3-band EQ, and spring reverb, making it one of the most versatile little amplifiers around.]]> Guitar Amplifiers Wed, 14 May 2008 08:00:16 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/acoustic_guitars/samick/eden_plains_d4_ce/index.html Acoustic Guitars: The Eden Plains series acoustics offer a dramatic look, with jewel colors laid over highly figured ash grains. To achieve this effect, the selection of wood is critical for both the beauty of the grain and the ability of the wood to take a color.]]> Acoustic Guitars Wed, 14 May 2008 07:44:44 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/the_cab/whisper_war/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: Apr 29, 2008
Label: Fueled by Ramen
Genres: Alternative Pop/Rock, Emo
Number Of Tracks: 12
Spencer Smith of Panic at the Disco discovered them and Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz signed them to his Decaydance imprint but can these Las Vegas upstarts live up to the hype?]]> Compact Discs Tue, 13 May 2008 08:51:26 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/dokken/lightning_strikes_again/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: Oct 29, 2007
Label: King
Genres: Heavy Metal, Hard Rock
Number Of Tracks: 12
Although George Lynch hasn’t been in the band for a while, the current lineup of Dokken is able to revive their classic 80’s metal sound with Lightning Strikes Again.]]> Compact Discs Tue, 13 May 2008 08:38:06 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/the_breathing_process/in_waking_divinity/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: Jan 21, 2008
Label: Siege Of Amida
Genres: Metal, Death Metal
Number Of Tracks: 12
In Waking: Divinity clocks in at around 34 minutes (only 8 out of the 12 are actually songs, 4 are brief instrumentals that give the illusion the cd is longer than it is) , and is a hard cd to describe. ]]> Compact Discs Tue, 13 May 2008 08:17:24 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/guitar_effects/planet_waves/chromatic_tuner/index.html Guitar Effects: The new Universal Chromatic Tuner from Planet Waves has something no other tuners have: a built-in stand that doubles as a bracket to hang the tuner from an acoustic guitar's soundhole.]]> Guitar Effects Tue, 13 May 2008 08:08:43 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/vhs_or_beta/bring_on_the_comets/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: Aug 28, 2007
Label: Astralwerks
Genres: Indie Electronic, Alternative Pop/ Rock, Indie Rock
Number Of Tracks: 12
Instead of trying to create a futuristic Daft Punk dance-funk on Bring on the Comets, VHS or Beta borrow from the decadent '80s, taking notes on forming pop songs from their alt predecessors, Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears. ]]> Compact Discs Tue, 13 May 2008 07:53:52 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/flobots/fight_with_tools/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: 2008
Genres: Rap
Number Of Tracks: 12
Flobots take the socio-political rhetoric that is familiar in recordings from Jay-Z, DMX, and Ice Cube via Westside Connection, and color it with the melodic sounds of the viola, guitar and an occasional pop from the trombone played by Joe Ferrone. ]]> Compact Discs Tue, 13 May 2008 07:20:50 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/bass_guitars/ibanez/sr300fm/index.html Bass Guitars: The Ibanez SR300FM 4-String Bass can master every genre from funk to punk. When Ibanez introduced the Soundgear bass guitar nearly 20 years ago, it personified the Ibanez slogan, "Anything But Traditional."]]> Bass Guitars Mon, 12 May 2008 08:57:37 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/guitar_amplifiers/bugera/333xl_212/index.html Guitar Amplifiers: The Bugera 333XL tone machine cranks out mind-blowing lead distortion and tight crunch due to its raw tone and massive power. Whether you want crystal clean punch, sultry smooth classic rock lead tones or that bone shattering metal crunch, the 333XL provides extensive tone shaping abilities with virtually unlimited dynamics in a three-channel configuration.]]> Guitar Amplifiers Mon, 12 May 2008 08:51:17 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/guitar_amplifiers/crate/cpb150_powerblock/index.html Guitar Amplifiers: The Crate CPB150 PowerBlock Stereo Guitar Amp is the amp to buy if you use a multi-effects processor. 150W mono/75W stereo guitar amp weighs only 4-1/2 lbs. and has a special FlexWave preamp that can be overdriven just like a tube amp.]]> Guitar Amplifiers Mon, 12 May 2008 08:41:04 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/electric_guitars/ibanez/rgr08ltd/index.html Electric Guitars: The Ibanez RGR08LTD BK 2008 Spring Special Gear of the Ninja Limited Edition electric guitar mounts a single Seymour Duncan Blackout cobalt magnet active bridge humbucker for aggressive playing styles, like the ninjas themselves. ]]> Electric Guitars Mon, 12 May 2008 08:31:41 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/warrel_dane/praises_to_the_war_machine/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: Apr 29
Label: Century Media
Genres: Metal/Hard rock
Number Of Tracks: 14
Seeing that Warrel Dane’s debut solo album is produced by former Soilwork guitarist-gone-producer Peter Wichers, it comes to no surprise that the production is…somewhat Soilwork-ish. ]]> Compact Discs Mon, 12 May 2008 08:23:58 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/hello_tokyo/sell_the_stars/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: 2007
Genres: Rock
Number Of Tracks: 11
More than anything the album reminds an exposure. There is such an intense in the tracks that you might even feel tired of it after the third listen.]]> Compact Discs Mon, 12 May 2008 08:14:49 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/guitar_amplifiers/crate/gtd65/index.html Guitar Amplifiers: The Crate GTD65 Guitar Amplifier combo features the FlexWave, a solid-state preamp that provides convincing tube-like tone and feel. You get 65 watts of power, three channels, a 12" speaker, CD inputs, and DSP effects.]]> Guitar Amplifiers Fri, 09 May 2008 17:32:43 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/dvd/clash/live_revolution_rock/index.html DVD: Release Date: April 15, 2008
he Clash Live: Revolution Rock fails at its role as a documentary and relies on the live footage to truly tell the band’s story.]]> DVD Fri, 09 May 2008 05:59:29 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/steve_winwood/nine_lives/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: Apr 29, 2008
Label: Columbia Records
Genres: Rock, Soft Rock
Number Of Tracks: 9
Steve Winwood delivers a surprisingly diverse record with Nine Lives, dabbling in everything from Latin rock to the Delta Blues.]]> Compact Discs Fri, 09 May 2008 05:54:06 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/city_and_colour/bring_me_your_love/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: Feb 11, 2008
Label: Vagrant
Genres: Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock
Number Of Tracks: 12
Bring Me Your Love, the second album from Dallas Green's solo project City And Colour, shows an artist settling nicely into his new gig as an acoustic singer/songwriter.]]> Compact Discs Fri, 09 May 2008 05:46:58 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/naildown/dreamcrusher/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: Apr 2, 2007
Label: Spinefarm
Genres: Melodic Death Metal
Number Of Tracks: 9
This band has it's own sound. The album is like a hybrid of many different genres of metal.]]> Compact Discs Fri, 09 May 2008 05:13:15 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/over_it/silverstrand/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: Mar 8, 2005
Label: Lobster
Genres: Punk Revival, Emo
Number Of Tracks: 12
This is definitely an improvement from some of their previous albums. Silverstrand is, to put it shortly: really, really good.]]> Compact Discs Fri, 09 May 2008 05:00:49 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/andrew_bird/armchair_apocrypha/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: Mar 20, 2007
Label: Fat Possum
Genres: Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Number Of Tracks: 12
With Armchair Apocrypha, Andrew Bird takes another developmental departure from his previous works, though not nearly in as drastic a fashion as his previous album-to-album jumps in style.]]> Compact Discs Fri, 09 May 2008 04:57:02 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/bass_amplifiers/laney/hcm65b/index.html Bass Amplifiers: The new HCM65B features a set of Active & Passive inputs, on-board compressor, three band EQ, including a swept mid, CD/Line input for connecting an external sound source such as a CD/Mini disk player for playing along to your favorite track/tuition CD and a DI socket for supplying a Direct Inject signal for an external power amp or direct to the PA.]]> Bass Amplifiers Fri, 09 May 2008 04:46:19 GMT http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/story_of_the_year/the_black_swan/index.html Compact Discs: Release Date: Apr 22, 2008
Label: Epitaph
Genres: Emo, Punk Revival, Screamo, Post-Grunge
Number Of Tracks: 13
Story Of The Year have perfected their sound of being able to squeeze melodic, fist pumping, anthemic choruses out of the hard edged, tight guitar lines that they are known for. The Black Swan signifies the return for the St. Louis post-hardcore mob.]]> Compact Discs Thu, 08 May 2008 06:37:39 GMT