 | |
List Price: $17.98 | | Label: Roadrunner Records
Salesrank: 105690
Released: September 7, 1999 |
| Our Price: $7.91 |
| Used Price: $0.24 |
|
| Media: Audio CD |
|
Chamber Music Track Listing:
1. Mist
2. Tragedy
3. Cu Cuy
4. Untrue
5. Tyler's Song
6. What's in Your Mind?
7. Not Living
8. Shock the Monkey
9. Burgundy
10. Entwined
11. Feed My Dreams
12. My Mercy
13. No Home
14. Shari Vegas
15. Notion
16. Anything But You
Editorial Review:
Limited edition pressing of the aggressive heavy metal outfit's 1999 sophomore outing with two previously unreleased bonus tracks added, 'Apparition' and 'Wishes'. 18 tracks total, also featuring their cover of Peter Gabriel's hit 'Shock The Monkey' with Ozzy Osbourne guesting on guitar. Gatefold digipak with a 12 page booklet featuring lyrics & full color photos. 1999 release.
Description of Chamber Music:
Far more diverse and dynamic than the band's unspectacular self-titled debut, Chamber Music exhibits Coal Chamber at its most eclectic and accessible. Rooting songs such as "Tragedy" and "Tyler's Song" in a foundation of de-tuned guitar bluster, syncopated beats, and growled vocals, Coal Chamber capture the primal urgency of Korn and Limp Bizkit, while tossing in enough gothic keyboard lines and minor-key melodies to appeal to Marilyn Manson fans. At times, however, Coal Chamber's sepulchral clatter seems a wee bit contrived--as in "What's in Your Mind," which features staccato vocals too similar to Korn's "Freak on a Leash," and a horrendous fragment of Peter Gabriel's "Shock the Monkey," with Ozzy Osbourne on vocals. But shortcomings notwithstanding, Chamber Music marks a major musical step forward for Coal Chamber. --Jon Wiederhorn
Chamber Music Reviews:
The Monster that is Coal Chamber 
2008-10-01 - If you were to ask me, "which album is better Chamber Music or-" I would immediately interupt you and yell out "Chamber Music!!" It's true, not too many albums surpass this one in eminence. I always cringe when people label bands in specific genres of music because everyone seems to want to argue about it; so sorry but Chamber Music is the epitome of a five star album for fans of heavy alternative metal or nu metal or whatever catagory you wish to call it. I see a number of reviewers have deemed it nu metal so all I have to say is if Coal Chamber is nu metal then nu metal IS Coal Chamber.
The songs on Chamber Music that will immediately catch your attention are the first two tracks Mist (fantastic opener) which seamlessly molds into Tragedy. Also tracks 5, 7 and 13 will make you $#!t your pants. I find a huge appriciation also for the two softer tracks on here (9) Burgundy and (12) My Mercy. With 16 tracks one would expect some filler in there but Coal Chamber "filler" is like the songs you'd buy an entire album for; the ones that are better is just of course that step above everything else. If you liked any of Coal Chamber's other releases there's no song on Chamber Music you won't be fond of. Over the years I've enjoyed this album so much I might even be inclined to say something as cheesy as 'it's not a coal mine, it's a gold mine'.
Coal Chambers Sophmore album
2007-02-16 - Of the CC albums this one most certainly stands the test of time and has me coming back. Most certainly their most creative hour. The songs may not bring back that balls to the walls velocity on their debut but its far more diverse and fuses their Nu Metal meets Gothic like none of their others. Most certainly a classic along with their debut. Some songs are weak overall its a satasfied buy however its less Nu Metal than their debut. After this album started going downhill.
Some good ol' nu-metal 
2006-02-13 - Not only is "Chamber Music" far more dynamic, diverse, mature, and accessible than Coal Chamber's self-titled 1997 debut, it is also doubtlessly the band's finest hour. Vocalist Dez Fafara (who would, four years after this album was released, dissolve Coal Chamber to focus on his side project Devildriver) delivers both vocally and lyrically, here. His singing style is usually far less snarly and repetitive--he even sings (yes, sings) on some songs (like "My Mercy")--and, as proven by such tracks as "Tyler's Song," his lyrics are solidified. Plus, guitarist Meegs Rascon is clearly a better musician than he was two years ago (he pulls out some pretty good riffs, here), and there are even some occasional keyboards sprinkled on, as well.
Aside from the eighth track, an almost laughable cover of Peter Gabriel's "Shock The Monkey," there isn't one bad song on here. Many of the songs, like "Tragedy" and "What's In Your Mind," are rooted in downtuned guitar bluster and Dez's arresting vocals, and they also have several strong, almost irresistible hooks. It should be clear to any real music fan that--from the almost thunderous, churning riffs of "Untrue," to the atmospheric, synth-y track "Burgundy," to "Entwined," which is an almost wall shaking assault of grumbling guitars and raging vocals--this is a solid album through and through. Other highlights are the crunchy "My Mercy," the distorted guitars and maniacal vocals on "Shari Vegas," and "Notion," which features some guest scratches by Limp Bizkit's DJ Lethal.
Coal Chamber have been disbanded for a while now, and it's doubtful anyone will be talking about them in a few years time. But this is still a good album! Even though the band released a Greatest Hits album in 2003, and "Chamber Music" doesn't feature their hit 2002 single, "Fiend," one could still make the case that this record is like a "best of" compilation for this band. If you like heavy stuff, it's here for you, but there is also a somewhat melodic and experimental side to several of these songs. This record is essential for all complete nu-metal collections, and it's also recommended if you have Nineties nostalgia.
The Music of all Music
2006-01-30 - This album is the first goth/heavy/rock album I ever purchased. I was on vacation with my family and I was in Sam Goody just listening to the CD's they had displayed and I grabbed the headphones and hit play and soon my mind was flooded with the song "NO HOME" and my eyes got wide and my ears felt like they were in heaven and I decided right then and there that I no longer liked the pop crap I had been listening to and that this was my new favorite form of music so i threw down the N'Sync CD my parents promised me and I grabbed this one off the shelf and said "I changed my mind, I want this" and here I am today still listening to this AMAZING album. This was and is by far the best of the three Coal Chamber albums because it shows the diversity in talent of this band. As of now they have split and Dez has formed a new band in DevilDriver and has resorted back to his old roots of mindless bantor, which at times works but this album showed so my promise for these guys. Starting this off heavy with "TRAGIDY" which followed the eerie opener os "MIST" they broke off my favorite Coal Chamber song ever "EL CU CUY" which sports amazing riffs and brilliant lyrics behind Dez's signature growl. I can't help but chant "kill the man become the monster" everytime I hear this amazing song. "UNTRUE" is another great song about a cheating mate or GF or whatever with lyrics that speak truth behind crushing riffs it's one of my favorites. "TYLERS SONG" is sweet yet brutal and thats what makes it brillants...it was also used on the Scream 3 soundtrack and so it may be more widely known because of that. "WHAT'S IN YOUR MIND" starts off with the Shining type vocals, talking backwards until BOOM it breaks into brutal riffs and constant screaming and is just freaking nonstop brutality! "NOT LIVING" is one of my favorite of the album, a song used for the Bride of Chucky soundtrack, it fits well and freaking rocks. I love the verses, the way Dez sings them and then the chorus which is catchy and easy to sing along with...the bridge is freaking awsome. Coal Chambers tries their hand at a Peter Gabrielle classic with the help of Ozzy Ozborne on the song "SHOCK THE MONKEY" and they do alright, but they don't particularly knock it out of the park, thats for sure. "BURGUNGY" starts the softer side, more melodic side to Coal Chamber and it works with Dez's baratone voice that booms next to the eerie soft riffs that show these guys have diverse talents. "ENTWINED" is one awsome song along the lines of Not Living that just serves up my favorite side of th Chamber, their melodic brutality! "FEED MY DREAMS" has my favorite bridge on the whole album where it's just freaking heavy riffs and Dez is going in and out of baratone vocals to more high pitched vocals...it's awsome..."MY MERCY" is back to the melodic soft side with female vocals along with Dez's and then we have the "NO HOME" and I have to say it's still freaking amazing! Still one of my favorites so just "Shut Up!" hahahah... "SHARI VEGAS" is my least favorite on the album and the only one that I skip over. Just too, I don't know, not cool. "NOTION" was the first song I heard by Coal Chamber played on the radio and I blasted it and screamed "I know this band, I have this CD" and I have to say that this song kicks so my (...) it's freaking awsome. It's easily a highlight and although the lyrics are quite simple the riffs and the brutality behind them make up for it. I love it. And that brings us to the epic closer, the one song that closes the chapter that was Coal Chambers BEST ride..."ANYTHING BUT YOU" and I have to say that this song defines what I miss about Coal Chamber..the lyrics were deep and meaningful, the riffs were unique and brutal while they still held to a form of melodicy that kept them from being contemperary and mainstream. This song is one of the best rock songs because it proves without a doubt that Coal Chamber could have and should have been on the top of their genra.
almost a classic
2006-01-01 - when i first listened to this album...about 6 years ago when it first came out, i thought it was alright but never listened to it citing "its not as hard" as the reason. now, years later, after the death of chamber and longing for more to fill the gap that the first album could not sustain, i finally bought it.
now, after listening to it again, i can honestly say it's not entirely that bad. but let me perfectly clear, this is one of those albums that you are either going to love it or you're going to hate it. the album isn't entirely as hard as the debut, but it does have its moments with songs such as "tragedy", "el cu cuy", "what's in your mind?", etc. then it has it's slower moments with songs like "my mercy", "tylers song", "burgundy" and the intro "mist".
its somewhere around here that one might notice the albums shortcomings. as an album, its solid with the exception of 2-3 songs. i thought "tylers song" and "notion" were kinda self-indulgent. "notion" is just repeative as hell, using the word 'notion' more times than one could care for. its not a word one would think of using in a song. i wish chamber was strong enough to have said "no...this shouldn't go here" and not listen to whoever suggested it, coz i read that mikey said that either 'wishes' or 'apparition' was going to go there. as for "tylers song" i just don't like it. i know its meaning and context, but it seems like one of those songs intended for one person and that most people would not be able to relate to. also, dez's vocals sound entirely whiny.
then theres "not living", its definitely not as a good as the original version that came out on the 'strangeland' soundtrack. its harder and more emotional in a sense, this one just kinda repeats what it did but not quite. dez's vocals are defintely not as strong as the older version. "shock the monkey" is the song that is both a hit and a miss. the entire song is great except for ozzy's vocals. it just ruins it a bit.
the positives are the nifty use of keyboards that one would not have expected chamber to use on their sophomore effort. it's entirely fascinating. an example is the almost drum and bass like "burgundy". nary a trace of guitar, but fixating on the drums, guitar and keyboard. with fantastic vocals by dez and the guest stuff by aimee echo. it just makes you wish you could hear her do more than go "aahhhh" in the background. but its great, then theres "my mercy" with what could be strings at the beginning that once again goes somewhere you did not expect them to go. also, again with guest stuff by aimee echo.
once again, its entirely good with the exception of like...2-3 songs. its a bit like, if those songs weren't there...then it would be a definite classic. but its a good listen for its strange diversity and interesting use of keyboards and innovative guitar sound that meegs perfected here. but i'd suggest listening to a friends copy before actually buying it make sure you could live with it in your collection.
