Five Star: A look at albums
that are so good that they impress even the most cynical of critics. Very
few albums are superior enough to obtain a five star rating but occasionally
a band slips through the river of mediocrity that is the modern music industry
and they produce an album that restore our faith in the future of rock!
This series is a look at such albums.
If more nu metal bands approached their
music in the same way as RA then we wouldnt hear all of the bickering
and sneering about how much nu metal sucks.
RA has similar elements to the most notable
nu metal bands but where most nu metal bands seemed to have stopped somewhere
early in their musical development, RA sounds like they kept on going and
growing as musicians. The music goes far beyond the simplistic nu metal
variety we have heard over the past few years and they have more in common
with Faith No More than with Korn. At times they seem to bridge the gap
between Kings-X and Tool. Not to say they are derivative of either group.
RA is far more progressive than the nu metal pack but also have a keen
ear for writing hooks that are undeniably addictive.
Taking their name from the Egyptian Sun
God, RA sprinkles some Middle Eastern influences into their music, especially
with the intro to their first single Do You call My Name and at various
other moments on the disc. They dont go overboard with it and because
of that it really adds a nice touch to a few songs and further differentiates
RA from most of the current heavy rock bands.
Id just about given up all hope for what
the major labels are releasing under the metal banner, always expecting
a cookie cutter band that should be named Korn Jr. (Ok there are a couple
of exceptions like Flaw and Nonpoint but for the most part major label
nu-metal bands of the past few years have followed the same boring formula.)
RA goes a long way to restore my hope for metal in the future. Its
not the metal I grew up with but RA does seem like the natural evolution
of the genre when you take Alternative rocks influence into account. So
in other words they seem to take some of the best elements of metal, prog
and modern rock and create their own sound that showcases some great riffing,
some amazing musicianship and arrangementswith some of the strongest lead
vocals heard since before Cornel was raging against the machine.
Although this CD was released late last
year, I didnt get my hands on to until a couple weeks ago. But Ill go
as far to say this is one of the best CDs Ive heard in the recent past
and a really nice departure from what we have been hearing from mainstream
heavy rock over the past couple of years. If I had heard this disc a couple
of weeks earlier, It would have definitely been high on my list of the
best releases of 2002. I guess well have to wait until next year for that
but it would be hard to top this CD.
RA have really outdone themselves with
this debut album and its hard to imagine them topping this effort. Hopefully
this CD will enjoy the success it deserves and will raise the quality bar
in 2003 for hard rock. God knows that needs to be done!
So if you are a fan of heavy music with
progressive flavors than RA is definitely the band to check out right now!
Posted by rocknwhitie:
one of my friends had this cd and he recommended it, i didnt listen to it for like a year, then when i did, i discovered what i had been missing....this cd is awesome. i love everything about it, vocals, lyrics, music, im definately going to buy their next cd "Duality"
Posted by rocknwhitie:
one of my friends had this cd and he recommended it, i didnt listen to it for like a year, then when i did, i discovered what i had been missing....this cd is awesome. i love everything about it, vocals, lyrics, music, im definately going to bu their next cd "Duality"
Posted by Glo:
I found the first RA at a recycled record shop. Fantastic!! The new CD kicks the first CD's butt!! The music is fantastic, the lyrics are awesome! I just bought the newest CD and I'm already looking forward to the next one. I too enjoy some of the metal stuff,but this goes to a higher level.
Posted by IIPaNTeRa:
Ra is lyrically and musically great, from one is a must have
Posted by Jet:
one of my favorite bands, hopefully they come out with a new cd sometime soon....unless ive missed it that is...
Posted by insert name here:
bring a girl to sqeeze her ass cause otherwise you'll walk out cause it's noise, nevermind, probably will anyways....rahaha
Posted by Der Meister:
Kicks ass!!! Ra kicks total ass and should continue producing excellent music!
Posted by Syrus:
RA ROCKS MY WORLD OFF IT'S AXIS INTO THE SUN!
Posted by Aimee:
I love this cd and the people who don't like it suck. The vocalist is awesome and the bass player rocks. Needless to say Ra rocks!!!!
Posted by Chemical Ali:
I picked up the cd at best buy cause it was 5 bucks and theyre now my favorite band. I saw them live last summer and they were amazing. I met skoota there which was really cool. Everyone ive shown ra to loves them. If only they got the publicity they deserve.
Posted by the sun god:
This CD is the best CD ever produced. Ive liked them for a few years now.
Posted by emojoe:
ra is pritty cool, ya know?
Posted by Elminster Majere:
RA is the kickin ist band to ever hit out of history.. and if you dont catch the humour and the pun in it then your one of those dissin Nu metel
Posted by Nick:
First of all, I love RA. They really are awesome and got me back into new-aged rock. I used to listen to alice n chains, stp, tool, korn, disturbed.. but now if I was told to pick one track it would be RA. Now which track is the touch one because they are all so good. If I had to rate their top 5 songs, it would go: violator, do you call my name, only, rectifier, and sky; in that order. What is their manager doing not getting this cd out on mtv. Get this band the publicity they deserve and they will explode
Posted by proofing_RA:
I discovered Ra's Sound and I stayed with my mouth open. They are unique. I am waiting for your new album. I hope that this appear soon. Come On guys!, listen to RA to feel some new
Posted by U suck:
The movie sucked
Posted by SlapStick:
I met Ra at one of their concerts. They are very nice and their music rocks. I'm not sure that you can place the music into a category because it has a very unique sound and really doesn't need to be in a group or category if you will but stay rather as a one of a kind band. Of course I don't need to say that they need to be a one of a kind band because they are one of a kind and if not everyone in the world finds out who they are it doesn't matter to me because me meeting them was awesome and to me they are already famous.
Posted by Met7Az: awww another person from Arizona. Angie
we're you at the show ? I wa sat the Jar also
Posted by Angie: I totally agree with the review as RA
being a Nu metal sounding band. The single "Do you call my name" has an
astounding hook from the music to the lyrics. As I've told the band members
at the Phoenix, AZ (Mason Jar) show, I like every song on the album. Sahaj
has an awesome voice and the melodic sound of the music is hypnotic. I'm
definately spreading the word of the band.
