Search - Stereoside :: So Long

A great album for those who like their rock & roll hard and

eric_f | Boston, MA | 11/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First off, this HAS to be the sexiest and hottest album cover ever. Wow. And I admit, that's what attracted me to this CD. I had never heard of Stereoside before, and bought this album on a whim. And I'm glad I did, because this is one of the best hard rock CD's I've heard in a long time. The perfect album for those who are sick of predictable power-chord "nu metal" where the singers just yell the same word over and over again. Here, singer Jeff Shields demonstrates his actual singing *talent*. I would even rate him on the same level (or at least pretty close) to Scott Weiland in terms of vocal ability. And the rest of the band ain't too shabby with their instruments either. This is hard rock & roll with a focus on melody and song structure, an album that you'll find yourself playing quite often. Anyone who likes The Cult or Velvet Revolver will most likely enjoy this.



The back cover has a photo of a cassette tape version of this album (anyone remember those?), which could suggest a nod to 80's hard rock/metal. And I can hear a little bit of an 80's influence here, in the sense that the album isn't afraid to have a little bit of fun while rocking. But this isn't a "hair metal" album by any means. I'll stress again that this is a VERY modern-sounding rock & roll album. Would make some excellent driving music for a long trip on the highway."

A Crunchy Treat for the Ears

Don Guthrie | Sunset, Utah USA | 11/16/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm shallow. But I'm mature enough to admit as much, confessing that what originally drew me to this CD was the cover. It's very eye-catching, highly provocative, and - let's just say it - smoking hot. So much so that I bought the CD with absolutely no idea what it would sound like. I was curious as to what kind of band would be daring enough to go with this cover art. Also, as I may have noted earlier, I'm shallow. This kind of nonsense appeals to me.



In my own defense, the back cover is equally interesting, a mock-up of a well used cassette case and tape. Nice touch, calling to mind some of the classic rock sounds of the late 80s and early 90s ... at least that's what it did for me. The last cassette I ever bought must certainly have been some kind of big-hair band.



I blew about $100 on CDs when I bought this one, including new stuff from Angels & Airwaves, Seether, and AFI. At the same time, I picked up a used copy of an R.E.M. "Best Of" compilation, but ended up putting back the new Queensryche CD of cover songs to keep it under $100. I'm telling you all of this so you have an idea of where I'm coming from.



I love this CD. AMG (All Media Guide) describes Stereoside as a "hard rocking Ocala, FL, post-grunge ensemble" ... that works for me. This isn't heavy metal, but it does have a slight flavor of some of that classic 80s hair metal with a far more modern sound. If you like Nickleback at all, or possibly Daughtry, then you will certainly like this. Mostly, Stereoside reminds me a lot of Hinder with the crunching guitars, heavy drums, and gravelly, slightly southern-rock flavored vocals from lead singer Jeff Shields. The lyrics are pretty simple and straight ahead ... nothing here for the flannel crowd. The vocals are clear and easy on the ears with no trace of any mumbling or angst.



My favorite cuts (after only a few plays): Too High - the lead-off track which grabbed me right up front; Sinner - a rock solid, all-around tune, my pick for a single; Wasted - almost a ballad, but still rocks; On and On - the closet thing to a true ballad on the disk. A couple of clunkers as well (Tattoo, It's Not My Day) but nothing that spoils the overall appeal of the disk.



The CD looks like eye-candy, sure ... but the music is a crunchy treat for the ears"

Great vocals, catchy songs - nothing groundbreaking

R. Caplan | NJ, USA | 05/08/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This well produced album has it all, catchy riffs, clear vocals, killer breakdowns, and the 2:1 heavy to ballad song ratio. Its a good album if you are a fan of Hinder, 3 Doors Down, or Alter Bridge. It will not appeal to metal or heavy rock fans though.



Stereoside is, if anything, a safe bet for a great hard rock album."