Extreme--III Sides to Every Story (1992)
Rating--7.2
**U.S. Sales Certification--Gold**
I know a lot of fans like the slower, more moodier pieces on this disc, and say that the band really expanded its style here. I, however,
can view this a little else than a complete dissapointment following the second release. A whole heap of energy is missing, "expanding
style" or not.
It seems at times as if the band is trying to recreate the "Hole Hearted" or "More Than Words" feel. Not that
they are necessarily writing commercial-sounding songs, but are taking more chances that one of the quarky, lighter-sounding
tunes will be embraced in the same fashion as the aforementioned two. And there are certainly a lot more of the lighter-sounding cuts...
A few high points dot the lineup, as "Rest in Peace" has a fabulous chorus, with a nice guitar shrug and strut. "Warheads" is
fast, quick, and snappy, and "Cupid's Dead" is sassy as well. "Peacemaker Die" shows some groove, but is a bit too slow to ever
really get rolling. And that pretty much sums up a number of the other songs---nice parts here and there, but never really enough to satisfy and gel. "Tragic Comic"
sounds too much like a "Hole Hearted" retread, "God Isn't Dead" has a nice chorus but still leaves you unsatisfied. "Our Father,"
while decent,
lacks the speed and riff that 'Pornograffitti' absolutely dripped with.
"Am I Ever Gonna Change" provides some fine moments near
the end of the album with some very fulfilling clean-to-reverb distortion melts. In all, an unfortunate shift in the band's style that would
eventually lead to commercial non-acceptance and an inevitable parting of creative ways---which is a damn shame.
TRACK LIST: YOURS--Warheads/Rest in Peace/Politicalamity/Color Me Blind/Cupid's Dead/Peacemaker Die
MINE--Seven Sundays/Tragic Comic/Our Father/Stop the World/God Isn't Dead?
& THE TRUTH--I-Rise 'n Shine/
II-Am I Ever Gonna Change/III-Who Cares?
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