Search - Ministry :: Rantology

It's pretty decent

Drain | e.p.TX | 03/14/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"like all other fans, i was expecting something a little different. especially after hearing the 25-40second samples that were posted on the official ministry site. after hearing the album, its pretty good but not what one would expect. especially with the word "mix" added to the majority of the songs. but there is one thing about ministry that i've noticed thus far, they've never really have had what one would call a "traditional" remix...you know something along the lines of what nine inch nails, marilyn manson, depeche mode, rammstein, nocturne, fear factory...etc. it's more along the lines of a coal chamber remix, but with more differences. but its still pretty good.



the update mixes of "jesus built my hotrod" and "n.W.o" sound like 3 songs that crashed into each other and ended up with this weird amalgamation of all of 3 blended into 1. "n.W.o." sounds like the original mixed with the extended dance mix but minus the extra 3 minutes mixed with the new stuff. "jesus" is the original mixed with the "red line white line" version mixed with new stuff. it's interesting.



the new song "the great satan" is pretty good even adding a condolizza rice [sp?] sample at the beginning as opposed the bush samples you hear throughout it. "bloodlines" is pretty nice...not sure how to describe it except slow and forboding at the start and gets hard as it goes along.



all and all its not that bad, but it does make you wonder why no other songs were put here. especially the underrated "paisley" from the "escape from l.a." soundtrack or "tonight we murder" from the "demon knight" soundtrack. i also agree with the thought there should've been some different live songs, but its still all good. in the end, this collection is a bit like "greatest fits" minus the additions of "what about?", "so what (live)", "reload 12''", and "supernaut" and with retooled classics. still...i think its worth buying especially knowing what you getting into."

It's good music, but this is a pretty poor compilation

Brian Allen | Kansas, USA | 01/12/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"In 2001, Warner Brothers released a collection entitled Greatest Fits. This album was a good introduction to the band, but it felt kind of lacking to the long time fan. There were better versions of a few of the tracks, and there are several songs that were sorely missed. When I heard about this compilation, I said to myself, "Good Al is going to do it right this time." That's clearly not the case.



This album was released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Ministry(has it really been that long?!). I was excited for more Ministry, and when I saw that most of the songs were remixes I was even more excited. Unfortunately this compilation really falls flat.



Most of the "remixed" songs are barely changed from their original counterparts. Some of them just have a few different samples, and others just have extra guitars. In my opinion, that is not enough to be called a remix.



There are only a few songs that really sound different enough to benefit from being remixed. No W has a different choir sample and a really different intro. This is about the fourth version of this song, and which one is the best is hard to call. I'd say I prefer the album version, though. Stigmata also has a different intro and a re-recorded vocal line which is more distorted than the original and perhaps better. Bad Blood has a synth that plays throughout the entire song, and some additional choir synths. Unsung has a lot of extra noise and a bagpipe. The rest, unfortunately, is more or less the same.



I was also disappointed with the new songs, the Great Satan and Bloodlines. The Great Satan is a pretty forgettable and generic metal song, with more Bush quotes. Oh boy! Bloodlines is clearly a rip-off of So What. Both the drums and bass are nearly identical, and it lacks the interesting samples and lyrical themes that the original had. Both are obvious filler, which have no place on such a compilation.



The other tracks are all previously released and feel out of place with the redone tracks. Furthermore, they could have chosen better songs than Waiting and Animosity, and if they had to include live songs, they could have at least given us new ones instead of the ones from Spinchtour.



Worst of all about this compilation, though, is that their is still very little representation of early Ministry. For an "Anthology" that seems a bit inexcusable. A studio version of the updated version of We Believe would have been ideal for this collection, but nothing from Twitch is to be found at all. There is also only one song from The Land of Rape and Honey, which I believe is their best album, and too many recent songs.



I would recommend you get an album or possibly Greatest Fits instead of this, if you're new to Ministry. Longtime fans don't really need to bother, other than to add another CD to your collection."

This is a must have for Ministry fans...

P. Caetano | Central, California | 10/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a true fan then you own one of the reserved autographed copies, but for new fans of ministry and if you liked "Houses of the Mole'" then this will be a good companion to that release, here you will get "The Great Satan" and eight other newly remixed songs that are worth having in your ministry collection. This really is not just for a newcomer ("Greatest Fits" is good for a newcomer) this is for fans who have enjoyed Ministry these last 25 years. You are not going to waste any money getting this. But I would love to have this on vinyl over a CD."