Nine Black Alps Album: “Everything Is”

I'm constantly amazed at how much I enjoy this album. I expected to find the usual two or three good tracks buried in the usual garbage, but "Everything Is" is surprisingly consistent, chock full of good material. Though there are a few tracks that are exceptionally good ("Unsatisfied," for example), there isn't a single dud on the album.

In addition, the songwriting is exceptional. I tend toward more electronic music, and am normally bored by bands without a dedicated keyboardist or (at the least) whacky FX. Nine Black Alps plows through the album with only a few different guitar and bass sounds, providing variation entirely through the songs themselves instead of by sonic contortion. This is some of the purest and best rock I've ever heard.

Other reviewers' have made comparisons to Nirvana, but I feel this is unjustified. Nine Black Alps easily competes with Nirvana for grunginess, but they owe far more to the Ramones and modern indie rock than to Nirvana.

Simply put, this album is fantastic. It's not often anymore that I find an album that just *kills* from beginning to end. This, my friends, is that album. I'm amazed that it's not out on domestic release in the States yet. When it hits, it'll be huge, mark my words. There's a load of Nirvana influence here, but they're by no means a knockoff band. This album has so much energy, and rocks so effing hard. I've been a music buff for nearly 35 years now, and it takes a lot to impress my old, jaded ears. If you don't have this album, get it. I don't care how, just do it. It's brilliant.

Im not a kid by the way i just forgot my password and HAVE to say... This is by far the best album i have picked up in ages. I am addicted to it and cannot stop repeating it over and over. Most of the songs on the album are very strong and i am not bored for one minute. These guys deserve recognition for an AWESOME first album

Most albums wear out, but this one can always play through. It's good straight ahead rock that borrows hooky riffs from other bands when they open up("Just Friends" sound like JET, "Everybody Is" sounds like a Dead Milkmen song), but they quickly lock into a solid rock tune, remaining true to their form but also never boring.

Listen to it.

I picked this up for $3 at a used cd store. I saw it and remembered having heard them compared to Nirvana, so I took a chance seeing as I wasn't going to waste $15 or anything. I was impressed by the sound, very grunge and still relevant, much like the rock revolution that occured around 2003 or 2004 (namely the Hives, Vines, Strokes etc). "Cosmopolitan" is the best track, and although it gets repeditive at times, it's a solid record. "Behind Your Eyes" and "Intermission" are two folkier acoustic tracks and this band makes them work. The lyrics are well written and socially insightful at times. Worth checking out if you're into Nirvana or the Vines. The only disappointment for me was that "Southern Cross" wasn't a CSN cover.