Search - Alien Ant Farm :: Truant (Bonus Dvd)

An amazing follow-up

Alan Pounds | Minneapolis, MN | 04/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't even like the first Alien Ant Farm album very much. It seemed a bit mediocre. The Michael Jackson cover of "Smooth Criminal" was way overplayed. These are reasons that some poor souls will never listen to "Truant" and hear the vast improvement they've made since. Dryden (lead vocals) was almost killed in a bus accident while they were one tour for their last album. It seems that this incident really affected the way the write and play music. Every track on the album is great. It's been an every-day-listen for a very long time. They've also changed it up a lot with a nice variety of different styles of music. Possibly one of my most played albums I own. Do yourself a favor, blow off all those people who think Alien Ant Farm stinks, due to an over-saturated radio played Michael Jackson cover. Buy Truant, and be amazed."

This Is Tru-ly Good Rock!

CFal | Bellevue, WA United States | 10/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I wasn't too impressed by Alien Ant Farm's debut album, "ANThology," when it came out back in 2001. I bought it mainly for "Smooth Criminal," but only dug a few other tunes on it, like "Movies," "Attitude," and "Sticks And Stones." They just kinda faded from the banks of my memory after awhile, and I basically stopped caring about them. I heard of their bus crash, and was sorry to hear about it, but otherwise, I was not interested in the band anymore.Then, in comes "truANT," an album produced by two members of one of my favorite bands, Stone Temple Pilots. So, I'm thinking, maybe this one will be better. Yet I still ignored the album's release. I did hear their first single from the disc, "These Days," and instantly fell for it's irrisistable hook and heavy sound. I then heard their second single, "Glow," and I came to a conclusion: I was going to get this album! "Glow" has a jangly acoustic sound, with a great hook that has fitting, if not too upfront, lyrics like "I'll be the fuse that she blows, and even with the lights out, we'll glow."Lead singer Dryden Mitchell's lyrics are as unusually clever, and pronounced with the utmost intensity, almost like a metalhead Michael Stipe. With riffs ranging from Rage Against The Machine to well, Stone Temple Pilots, AAF displays that they know how to be underrated and could prove themselves if ever came the challenge. Their mix of metal, punk, alternative and latin give them a bit of a one-up over most bands coming out these days as either emo, hard rock or garage (not that's bad, just bland). It's nice to see a band come out who can throw us a change-up every so often.So much for the sophomore slump, because AAF have done a superb job on claiming that they aren't one trick ponies. Catchy, clever and winningly rockin', "truANT," is a terrific buy.The highlights include: catchy opener "1000 Days"; the metal-thumper "Drifting Apart"; hard rockin' wall-shakers, "Sarah Wynn," and "S.S. Recognize.""

"These Days" frightened me...

adrif | California | 01/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When "These Days" started hitting the radio, I wasn't impressed. I bought ANThology on the strength of "Movies", many months before "Smooth Criminal" became the sensation it did. My favorite tracks on ANThology were "Flesh and Bones", "Attitude" and "Sticks and Stones". These were songs that pushed the typical alterna-rock-pop envelope, and were the songs that sorted the men from the "I only bought it for 'Smooth Criminal'" boys. "These Days" struck me as neither original, nor skilled. I had fears that the Sophomore Album Curse had struck.However, after "Quiet" started getting some airplay, I gave the disk a chance. I really liked the production of the vocals on "Quiet", or as the household affectionately refers to it, "the bumblebee song" (F- This concept is unappealing). "Glow", nestled between the two radio hits, became my first new favorite song (it's *ALL* about the clapping), immediately followed by "Tia Lupe". (I'm surprised at how low others have rated this track.) "1000 days", "Drifting Apart", "Never Meant" and "Hope" have all grown on me as well. Now that I've listened to the album extensively, I feel my initial fears were unfounded. They haven't lost their touch. However, what, aside from RIAA's Iron Hand of Subpoena, is to stop you from just getting the tracks? I'm glad you asked. This has got to be the best execution of album art concept EVER. Before the album was released, when all Amazon displayed was the cover, I realized I needed the Pee-Chee (tm) folder album. I was certainly not disappointed- I now have a handy dandy multiplication table. That's Useful Information. Even without the phone number and the CD Locker Room extras, the liner notes make the album purchase worthwhile, especially for those of us who kept their Pee-Chee folders in their Trapper Keeper (also, presumably, tm).Hopefully Terry Corso's departure won't ruin the band's future outings. I don't entirely know how collaborative the band is, but I know that live it's all about Tye anyway. While I think Dryden's "dreamy", how can you not dig a guy who plays Kalimba?"