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diversions
More
generic metal for Hulkamaniacs
By Joe Licavoli
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
MTV uses every
possible angle to make money off of its successful television
shows with videos and CDs. Its newest economic venture is
a collection of songs chosen by participants in the show "WWF
Tough Enough 2."
By no surprise,
the majority of the bands on the album are in the hard rock
genre that is overflowing radio airwaves and video playlists
on MTV.
One of the better
and less known acts in the genre, Trustcompany, delivers an
enthralling rock song, which hooks the listener as well as
provides strong melodies.
Puddle of Mudd
plays an acoustic version of their hit, "Control,"
which doesn't really work as the lyrics cripple the song.
"I like the way you look at me, I like the way you smack
my ass," are not exactly the most beautifully written
lyrics. In the hard version they work to provide power to
the song, but acoustically the song is laughable.
One of the main
highlights on the album comes from the rocking Weezer with
"Oh Lisa." The fun song was a great choice because
it is not one that is very well known so it was a refreshing
change from the hits on the album.
The humorous and
crazy rockers the Bloodhound Gang offers a slice of humor
and fun to the CD with a remix of their hit "The Bad
Touch." The song is layered with synthesizers, hard guitars
and vocals making for a strange but potent combination.
The problem with
so many of these hard rock bands is that they all sound the
same and they don't try anything new. There is so much great
hard music that can be made, but when it's made in a generic
formula, it looses its edge, which is quite often the most
powerful aspect of a hard rock band.
Cinder with "Break
Your Silence," "Sinistar with "Freak of Nature"
and Injected with "Faithless" are all prime examples
of the generic music made by many hard rock bands.
The tough guys
rejoice with "Out of the Cage," by Marz, which is
another raging song, although lacking in originality.
Rob Zombie, the
man who invented it all, closes the CD with "Feel so
Numb." I am not a huge fan of Rob Zombie but he does
know how to make an incredible hard rock anthem.
The participants
of "Tough Enough 2" show they are like the majority
of the young rock loving audience who just want something
loud to bang their head to.
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