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Cover:
8 Grizzly Adams out of 10.
I like this. It's two skulls and in the middle
of them is a shot glass with fire in it. Now that's a shot.
Booklet: 3
Grizzly Adams out of 10.
Sometimes you open up booklets and you
go, "what was the point of this?" Well this is one of those
booklets. Black Label Society has put together some good booklets but
this is by far the worst. It opens up to a 4 panel poster with just
thanks all around the sides while there are some skulls and fire in
the middle. The inside of the booklet has simple credits and that's
it. No lyrics, no pictures of the band, just skulls. And skulls are
cool, but this is just a very weak and rushed booklet. It looks like
it was thrown together at the last minute. It looks cheap.
Songs:
5 Grizzly Adams out of 10.
I had high hopes for this CD, especially since Zakk's "Book Of
Shadows" is one of my favorite CDs and this record was supposed
to be in that vain. However, it's not acoustic really, and this is no
"Book Of Shadows." This isn't even a "Pamphlet Of Shadows"
or a "Trapper Keeper Of Shadows." First, Zakk was never the
best singer to begin with but his voice ain't getting any better. He
sounds rather harsh here at times and it's quite a difference from how
he sounds on "Book Of Shadows." If you're going to play slow
music you need to have a voice that doesn't hurt somebody's ears! He
hasn't been taking care of his voice at all. Second, the production
is ok but a lot of these songs are very average, and some are pretty
weak, such as "Whiter Shade Of Pale." There was no reason
for that. If you're to do a song strictly on piano, make sure you can
sing! I know, I know, that's a crazy thought, but not everybody is cut
out for singing songs on piano. When I think of piano, I think of Billy
Joel or Elton John, or even Butch Walker, not Zakk Wylde. The good songs
are "Crazy Or High," "Queen Of Sorrow," "House
Of Doom" (which sounds similiar to Alice In Chains "No Excuse")
and "Damage Is Done" but overall I think this could have been
a lot more.
Comments: Since 1999, Zakk has been putting
out a record a year, but I think after this it's time for him to take
a year off. Rest the voice, Zakk. Some of the Black Label Society CDs
over the last few years sound rushed at times so I'm saying take a year
off and don't rush the next CD out. It's like a fine brew, it takes
time to get it just right and Zakk's voice needs all the help he can
get. And he also needs to bring in an outside producer to help him with
the songs.
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