Crowbarred's Mellow Mix Volume 1: MM Vol 1 - 005

MM Vol 1 #005

Stabbing Westward

"I Remember"

(2001)

Genre:Industrial Rock

This song can bring my soul to it's knees, when & if I allow it. If in a fantasy world an alien/God could grant me the ability to perform a song, then this would be the song for me. "I Remember" is so beautifully written, crafted and musically arranged, it's hard to believe it was never released as a single in it's own right. Some people out there might write and tell me it's crap but that's OK, as I always say, music is personal to people and not all people listen to the same stuff or have the same tastes, otherwise this planet would be pretty boring if we all listened to just Abba. This type of music is my taste and hopefully to other people out there someone might enjoy it too. And if nothing, I hope the lyrics mean something, to somebody, in particular.

Stabbing Westward

Stabbing Westward was trying to reinvent themselves in 2001. Long known as an industrial hard rock group, this hardworking (lots of hours logged on the road) band has been at it since the early '90s, with several discs out and some career high points, such as their rotation on MTV's Buzz Bin in 1996. 2001 saw Stabbing Westward with a new label, Koch, a new producer, Ed Buller (Suede), and a self-titled release that maintains the band's heavy guitar sound but is buffered with a poppier sensibility. Their shift in style is a wise move, as the band is removed from the isolation of a niche genre and can join ranks with such commercially successful acts as Fuel, 3 Doors Down, and so forth.

think it rained

Stabbing Westward is a solid rock album that should fit comfortably on mainstream rock radio stations. Lead singer Christopher Hall's voice is full of empathy and pleading and the guitars are heavy, melodic, and thick. Hats off to band keyboard player/programmer Walter Flakus who provides tasty industrial sounds that color and nicely support the songs on this disc. A fine example of Flakus at work is on "Happy," a moody rock song peppered with a resonant vibraphone part. Several standout moments occur on this well-crafted piece of work. A raw energy marks the explosive "So Far Away," while the earnest "Perfect" moves with determination and passion. The best song of the set, however, is "The Only Thing," a creeping, trippy rock track that packs smart and engaging lyrics and vocals delivered with searing emotion.

art by kuevlaar

Stabbing Westward's hypnotic love song is made more potent by its dramatic and haunting music. The disc's one faltering moment occurs on "I Remember," which sounds like a Vertical Horizon ballad. All the elements are here for a searing rock ballad -- yearning voice, emotional electric guitar chords that hit you in the gut, and so forth -- but the weak link here is the lyrics*, which, had they been more mature, would have made this good song great. Stabbing Westward is a solid modern rock album, flavored with catchy hooks, moodiness, edginess, and passionate music and performances. The band's decision to take a stab at a new sound paid off. Stabbing Westward formally announced that the band had broken up on February 9, 2002.~ [Liana Jonas, All Music Guide] * Ha! see what I mean about different tastes ... classic.

For Abba visit The Definitive 1000 Songs #919

For Fuel see Number 029 & Number 013

For 3 Doors Down visit The Definitive 1000 Songs #669

For Vertical Horizon see Number 059 & Number 022

For more Vertical Horizon visit The Definitive 1000 Songs #697

This song has a crowbarred rating of 91.4 out of 108