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Crooked X Review

artist: crooked x date: 02/13/2009 category: compact discs
Crooked X
Released: Jan 27, 2009
Genre: Rock
Label: EMI Records
Number Of Tracks: 10
Signed at the age of 14, the guys in Crooked X show they have a promising career ahead of them.
 Sound: 7.3
 Lyrics: 7.3
 Impression: 7.7
 Overall rating:
 5.6 
 Reviewer rating:
 7.4 
 Users rating:
 3.7 
 Votes:
 56 
 3 reviews 81 commentsvote for this cd: 
overall: 6.7
Crooked X Featured review by: UG Team, on february 02, 2009
5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Sound: It’s likely that a lot of you will go into listening to the self-titled debut album from Crooked X with some valuable bio information: These band members were signed to a major record label at the age of 14. Even though you might want to go into reviewing an album without any bias, you can’t ever disregard the fact that this is a group of young guys that are musically leaps and bounds ahead of most of their fellow teenagers. After coming in 2nd place on the CBS Early Show’s “Living Room Live” segment, mega-manager Doc McGhee began to usher the kids into a veritable whirlwind of publicity (featured song on the video game Rock Band, a reality show on MTV, and lots of talk show appearances). So does that all equal a quality debut album? Crooked X’s songwriting might still fall short of most of their 20-something-and-older peers, but their debut album shows a lot of promise.

For Rock Band video game players, you may already have heard the tracks “Nightmare” or “Rock N’ Roll Dream” as part of the playlist. These tracks are a fairly good indication of what you’ll hear on the majority of the album, namely good ol’ bluesy rock. Vocalist/guitarist Forrest French, lead guitarist Jesse Cooper, bassist Josh McDowell, and drummer Boomer Simpson are a group of competent musicians, and there is no shortage of musical chemistry. There might not be a whole lot of originality yet and the songs do recall quite a few other bands, but the 10-track CD is still quite likeable.

Crooked X is at it's best when it delivers grooving lead guitar lines, which are most prevalent in the tracks “Gone,” “Nail in the Coffin,” and the Zakk Wylde-like “Lost Control.” The band definitely knows how to kick a song off, and the intros always tend to be the best parts of their compositions. While the remaining verses and choruses are not bad by any means, they do tend to feel like your basic power chord-driven rock tracks. The guitar team of Cooper/French are solid players, and as they continue to develop their talents, we’re likely to hear some insanely good riffs in time. // 7

Lyrics and Singing: Much like the music, the lyrical department is still a work in progress. It’s hard to be too rough on such young guys, but there are clichés galore on the debut album. You probably have an inkling of what the songs are about with titles like “Rock N’ Roll Dream” (“I had a rock and roll dream and I was the star; I went around the world; Playin' my guitar”) or “Adrenaline” (“Fifteen hundred pounds of adrenaline; Gonna ride this rocket ship until I win”), and you’re likely correct in the assessment. If you have little tolerance for superficial lyrics that have been done over and over (even if young teenagers are the composers), you will likely have little patience for Crooked X’s debut record. // 6

Impression: “Fun” is an appropriate description for Crooked X’s music, which does feature a few very catchy tracks. The guitar work is reminiscent of everyone from Zakk Wylde to John Sykes to a tiny bit of Kirk Hammett, and this is a band that just needs to come into its own with a little time. If anything, Crooked X will hopefully prove to kids that dedication, practice, and a passion for music can eventually pay off in a big way. // 7

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overall: 8.7
Crooked X Reviewed by: schecter912, on february 13, 2009
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Sound: First off in a day driven by rock bands with nothin but ballads on there albums it is real refreshing to here this self titled debut by Crooked X wich only has one ballad. The sound of this album is overall really good it's heavy enough but not to heavy. I am still in awe that the average age in this band is 14. Now the only complaint I have is that with the band being so young it seems that they still haven't found there own style yet kinda like a early silverchair but I'm sure there style will come in time. Now to the songs

01.Gone: love the intro has a great drum beat a great hard rock inspired riff definatly on of the top songs on the album my only problem is that the vocals seem a little weeker on this song than the rest.
02.Adrenaline: excellent vocals on this song this song is where the singer Forest really shines on the album to me this song sounds so natural coming from the band only complaint is that it's only 2.45
03.Time Is Now: love the guitars in this song although to me it's probably one of my least favorites but still a good song overall.
04.Rock N Roll Dream: I really like the drum start and the opening riff. Lyrically this is by far the best song on the album however the dueling solo with Forrest and Jesse seems a little week and it kinda seems a little forced but still a great song I love it
05.Fade: the one ballad on the album I'm usually don't like ballads but this is cool it has a really cool feel to it it doenst seem forced at all the guitars and drums are some of the most creative I've heard the vocals are excellent Forrest seems really relaxed. Defently a great song
06.You Gotta Bleed: first off it has a cool classic rock tone to it vocals are cool guitars are great and the overall sound is cool but it does seem like the verses and chorus kindof run together but still a great song anyway
07.Nail In The Coffin: once again the intro is great drums are great and guitars are great love the feel of this song has a great raw feel to it on of my favorites on the album
08.Nightmare: love the bass and drums in this song the riff seems forced but still really cool has a kinda metallica feel to it has a darker feel to really great song
09.Death Of Me: intros not the best on the album but when the guitar kick in you really start to get into it has a more mellow feel to it has a classic tone seems relaxed great distortion
10.Lost Control: one of the best intros has a good fast tempo to be honest this song is in my opinion one of the best has a great overall feel to it. // 8

Lyrics and Singing: Lyrics are great it sounds like the really took there time with them. Rock N Roll Dream is the best song lyrically. The Lyrics goes well with the music. As far as singers skills he's a great singer better than most twice his age and most of all I'm not sure but I don't think pro tools were used on the album he is definatly a great singer kinda reminds me of Shaun Morgan of Seether as far as being able to sound good on the album as well as live. // 9

Impression: Great album but a lot of the songs seem to sound like each other. I don't think pro tools were used. To me they could have done better as far as songs sounding like each other but overall this album is by far one of my favorites I have been looking for a good band cause a lot of todays music sucks but crooked x seem like they will never sell out there age might hurt them a little because I am sure there are a lot of jealous people out there but hopefully they will have many albums to come and if sombody stole this CD I would definalty buy a new one. // 9

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overall: 7
Crooked X Reviewed by: shreddedstrings, on february 03, 2009
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Sound: Crooked X Is Rocking At The Age Of 14! But seriously, this band has a lot cut out for them, and that they have a lot of weight on their shoulders if they want to keep their musical careers up. Altogether, the band sound mixes in well, as well as individually. Jesse Cooper rocks at guitar while Boomer Simpson is excellent at drums. Josh Mcdowell is a great bass player that might be, in my opinion, one of the new Jason Newsted or Robert Trujillo (Metallica's former and current bass players). And last but not least, the singer, Forrest French. Forrest has a voice of a James Hetfield for someone in middle school. Now for the songs in this fine album. To my opinion, the single of this album, "Nightmare", seems as if the producer of this album didn't know anything about music theory. The song was perfect on the hit game Rock Band, but on this album, the progression is all chopped up and doesn't fit together, and it goes fast, and slows down for no appreant reason. The other song "Nail in the Coffin" is a masterpiece that seems like one of the metal gods must of written it. The intro guitar riff seems like something Tom Morello would play. But all in all, these kids have a lot to do to make it bigger than life. // 7

Lyrics and Singing: To me, the lyrics are a little bit cheesy. In "Rock N Roll Dream" the lyrics are as followed "Everyday I'm playing, Till my fingers bleed". Which those lyrics to me seem as if they are written like every garage band out there. Yes I know that they are new to the scene, and that is one of my favorite songs on this album. That is basically all I have to say about the lyrics on this album. // 7

Impression: I love this album, it is right now my favorite album next to the metal band Metallica. They have to be influenced by Metallica cause I see a lot of comparison between them. All of the songs on this album are gold, except for the progression mistake on "Nightmare". I love everything about this album, and don't really hate anything about it. I wouldn't buy this album again, all because I already ripped it onto my computer, but if I had to I would. // 7

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