Release date: 1991
Label: Radioactive Records
Genre: Alternative Rock /Post-Grunge
This review is going to be for the first album that "converted" me to rock music.
Therefore, it might not be completely objective since I'm emotionally attached both to the band and the album. But, let's face it; no review can be truly objective, since human emotions are involved!
Mental Jewelry is the band's official debut album. Based on the writings of the Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, lyrically, this 12-tracked album is a journey to existential questionings of (at that time) 20-year old Live's front man Ed Kowalczyk. Blend it with some simple yet impressive grunge/punk guitar riffs, funky bass beats, well studied drums and a melodic voice filled with anger and fierceness (maybe one of the best voices in the modern rock history) and you get a real good album.
The track that met the greatest mainstream success was Operation Spirit (The tyranny of tradition). Ed questions everything he's been told so far, "heard a lot of talk about a lot of things never meant that much to me”, because the only thing that's here is "anxiety and pain”. The questioning stretches beyond the religious boundaries, and he urges the listener to "let it go" and "let's get it back together”. Beautiful hard-driven guitar riffs, powerful song.
Along with Operation Spirit, there are a four more tracks I believe everybody must listen. Beauty of Gray ("this is not a black and white world.... get to appreciate the beauty of gray"), Tired of me ("tired of the water, tired of the wine...tired of the steel"), Brothers Unaware ("no race no creed... and it are simple as that...”), 10,000 years ("selfishness and separation have led me to believe that the world is not my problem"). All of them are filled with tension and power, having an authentic alternative/grunge sound.
"Waterboy" and "Good Pain”, two more -meant to be heard loud- songs, also stand out from the rest.
To be fair, this doesn't mean that the rest of the album is not notable. It is. "Mirror Song" and "Mother Earth is a Vicious Crowd" are two very nice ballads, with soft guitar riffs, yet filled with the same vividness that pervades the whole Mental Jewelry. I believe every single song written on the album is worth listening. It gives me the feeling that they come straight from the heart, pure and not a bit sanctimonious.
If you are a fan of the post-nirvana alternative/grunge scene of the 90s, or you like to dive into puzzling and honest lyrics, or just want to hear a sincere sound, this album is a must for you.
Rating: 7/10
Videos from Youtube.com: Operation Spirit, Beauty of Grey
No comments:
Post a Comment