Alien Ant Farm Album: “ANThology [Japan]”

Hailing from Riverside, California, Alien Ant Farm has been on the premier edge of the California music scene since their formation in 1996. Winning "best album of 1999" at the LA Music Awards with their independent CD release "Greatest Hits", this dynamic foursome of musicians has enjoyed popular and critical successes since their conception.

The best way to describe Alien Ant Farm is to call them "musicians", because that is what they are; they are highly technical and poetic, every member adding significantly to each of ANThology's carefully constructed tracks. This is one of the most penetrating and honest releases by any band in a long time, and with ANThology this band meshes seamlessly together as it makes something that works profoundly on every level.

This album is Alien Ant Farm's first major label release, and will feature a collage of both old and new tracks, all representing the band at the top of their game. From `harder' tracks such as "Courage", "Sticks & Stones", and "Wish" to the spiritual "Flesh and Bone", to `lighter' tracks such as "Attitude" and "Happy Death Day", this album is laden with a continual demonstration of great musical talent and provides for a very solid and visceral listening experience. As a special treat, the song "Orange Appeal" is featured as a hidden track and showcases the band's stranger side.

ANThology has a much more refined and cleaner sound than the band's previous independent releases and should please both new and old fans alike. Alien Ant Farm adds a new dimension to the current breed of pop-rock clones that permeates so abundantly from today's popular music culture, and `ANThology' will be a welcome addition to anybody who is looking for a band that can take music and turn it into a resonating experience that hits the guttural chords of emotion and feeling, bringing the listener along with it.

Of all the music that I have heard this year, the debut by Alien Ant Farm is by far the best. The thirteen songs here (and one hidden track) show incredible talent for a debut. The CD starts off rockin' with "Courage". An excelent song that could easily become a single. Next is their first single, "Movies" and it is worthy of single status as I just can't stop listening to it! "Flesh and Bone" is another favorite of mine, and takes a look at religion with a rock feel. My other favorites from this CD are "Whisper", "Stranded", "Death Day", and the truly excelent "Attitude". However, the song that takes the cake is the cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal". Not only do they improve on it in every way, but it has become my favorite song of the year. With this incredible debut, I'm sure that we will see much more good stuff from AAF in the future!

Alien Ant Farm's major label debut "ANThology" is an impressive album from a great band. I find that every track is exceptionally good with no fillers or down-time. Each song rolls into the next with the same power and greatness as the song that precedes.

The music is straight up hard rock, delivered by guitarist Terence Corso, bassist Tye Zamora and drummer Mike Cosgrove with Dryden Mitchell presiding over vocals. Mitchell's vocals fit the music well and goes well with the message of the vocals, at times sounding like Brandon Boyd of Incubus, in my own opinion.

As I said, each track is strong but some are catchier and can grab you easier than the others. My personal favorites are Flesh And Bone, Whisper, Sticks And Stones, Wish and Death Day. The two singles, "Movies" and "Smooth Criminal", are indeed good songs but I find the other songs on the album more appealing.

If you are a fan of the newer Incubus sound or a fan of that genre, this is a good album to check out. I don't recommend it for the people who want music with a harder edge. Its more for someone who wants popular mainstream rock music without the totally processed pop-sound used for sales.

One day a year or two back I borrowed an album from a friend called 'ANThology' by Alien Ant Farm. Although I slapped my forehead with the lame pun, I gave the music a chance and it blew me away. The guitars are amazing, the bass most noteworthy. The drums aren't astounding, but there are times when they work in perfect unison with the guitars and it's amazing. The vocals are really good. The lead, Dryden Vera Mitchell, seems to know his limitations and works well with his range. The lyrics tend to move from acceptibly average to beautifully deep and sometimes intentionally silly. I think this is due to the band not trying to impress anyone. The songs are good, and the bonus track 'Orange Appeal' is a definate treat.

Their second album, however, was a complete disappointment. The music got bad, the lyrics followed suit. Only the bass is still excellent. If you want to check out Alien Ant Farm, buy 'ANThology'.

If you like the Smooth Criminal cover, you'll be disappointed by the rest of the album. Not a big fan of this band after hearing this album. They are creepily generic as if molded in an MTV laboratory somewhere in New York City. Just buy the MP3 single, and don't buy this album.