Alien Ant Farm - ANThology
(DreamWorks, 2001)

Just magine the confusion one would feel ten years from this release, when a novice fan of this group wants a greatest hits compilation. He or she would be presented with a strange enigma, purchase the compact disc clearly labeled greatest hits, or this one, confusingly titled ANThology. Disregarding the strange yet strangely witty choice of album title, the actual substance of this band clearly puts them above the rest of the pack. Many styles are apparent in the thirteen tracks here.

It's a crime that the two major singles released from the album, Smooth Criminal and Movies, sound almost nothing like the rest of the record. A shame really, because the heavier songs on ANThology rock supremely. Glorious groove rockers such as Whisper and Sticks And Stones are excellent excursions into strong new metal. The dischorded drones of Courage perfectly start off the album, and even the pop-like hooks of Smooth Criminal and Movies show a true passion and skill that many a "musician" in today's world of aseptic pop lack. The vocals of Dryden Mitchell soar through this record cleanly and effortlessly, completely leaving Incubus's and similar groups' vocals neck-deep in the proverbial gutter. This really shines through on the light calypso beats of Attitude and the balladry of Stranded, truly a spectacular song. The album only falters on a couple tracks: the slightly filler-ish Universe and the almost average Wish. But even such a small fault cannot drastically ruin this album of pure rock fury.

Rating: 4/5