 | Army Of Anyone Army Of Anyone The Firm Music 8 out of 10 Band Website
"You got Richard Patrick in my DeLeo Brothers!"
"You got the DeLeo Brothers in my Richard Patrick!"
Yes, that's right, in the grand tradition of Audioslave, Army of Anyone takes the stand as two 90's alternative legends joining forces to become an uberband. This time it's Filter frontman and former NIN guitarist Richard Patrick, crooning along with Stone Temple Pilots' bass and guitar playing DeLeo brothers. Oh, and the drummer was some dude that used to play with David Lee Roth. In other words, he's the luckiest man ever to now be playing with Army of Anyone.
When compared to superbands like Audioslave, one thing can be said for Army of Anyone - they don't change formula that worked with their prior successful meal-tickets. Army of Anyone sounds very much like an amalgamation of Filter and STP, so fans of either would more than likely take an immediate shining to Army of Anyone.
"It Doesn't Seem to Matter" kicks their self-titled album off with a bang. The rhythm is perfect and it proves that Richard Patrick and the DeLeos fit together like ham and cheese!
"Goodbye" is very catchy, a quality well suited for tracks cut as singles. Well-paced drums, penetrating riffs and a memorable chorus make this a great track.
The end of "Goodbye" merges with the beginning of "Generation", creating a fluidity that can be much appreciated. Generation's chorus struck me as a bit odd: "Generation of fear and whatever". I understand the song is about apathy and whatnot, but it just seems a bit phoned in to me. Ah, well. It's a solid track regardless!
"A Better Place" has a harmonic quality that I enjoyed. I'll put money on them releasing an all-acoustic version of this song in the future.
"Non Stop" is a politically-charged stab at the government. Very fashionable these days! It's fast paced and catchy. That's all that matters, right?!
"Disappear" has a good bassline and a cool solo 3/4ths of the way through the song. This stood out as one of the more enjoyable songs on the record.
"Stop Look and Listen" is a soft, melodious track that could almost be a lullaby.
"Ain't Enough" is another fast-paced romp through the daffodils stressing that sometimes love just ain't enough!
"Father Figure" is one of the heavier tracks on the album that thuds along like the Amtrak of the Damned!
"Leave It" is another tune with a catchy chorus. There's a lot of ambient sounds on this track, giving it more feel of a Filter song.
"This Wasn't Supposed to Happen" ends the album off like a slow stroll through poppy fields illuminated by sunset.
I'm sure people will find the similarities to Filter and STP something to gripe about. I however think the two artists came together well with their styles and feel this would be a welcome addition to fans of either band, or fans of neither as a completely new entity.
~TJ Geise |