Review 1 of 3

AdamBAMNinLA writes:

5of 5 Stars

I have been an fan of The Alarm since the mid-80's and I've got to say that this new album "Guerilla Tactics" should stand alongside their best work [old line up or new]. Its an excellent album.

The first person that posted here, DJsomethingorother, clearly had his mind made up before he listened to the album - if in fact he ever listed to it. Mike Peters and the rest of The Alarm wear their musical influences on their sleeves - they would be the first ones to talk about the influence of The Clash and other bands, but to belittle these new original songs by accusing Mike and the band of issuing an album full of re-treads is just wrong. I wonder what Mr. DJ would say about bands such as Green Day, Modest Mouse, Kaiser Chiefs or Kings of Leon - are they just stealing from the 70's and 80's too? After listening to "Guerilla Tactics" there is no question that its The Alarm thru and thru.

As for the U2 comparison: In the 80's, I was a "U2 is #1" kind of guy. I still love Bono and the boys, but The Alarm, for me, has taken the lead these days. I, too, am sick of the comparisons. I agree with the poster named Steve who said that Bono should thank his lucky stars for touring with Mike Peters and The Alarm back in the day. Mike Peters taught Bono how to play the acoustic guitar as well as how to play "Knockin on Heaven's Door". Remember Bono before meeting The Alarm? Where was the harmonica back then? Guess who he got that one from? Don't get me wrong, I love both bands, but while U2 has spent years on new albums kept secret until release with monster tours that only people with some cash can get decent seats to, The Alarm's new album was actually culled from a series of EP's released over the last year or so - the series was called "The Counter Attack Collective" - 7 EP's and 1 full length album of raw new tracks that blew out of the water most of what passes for rock these days. "Guerilla Tactics" represents just a fraction of the material from the Collective. U2 would never do such a thing.

Bottom line: No matter the lame comparisons and delusional reviews from other posters, if you like rip-roaring rock with passion and strength, then you have to give "Guerilla Tactics" a listen.

Jul 12, 2008 23:46:49

Review 2 of 3

stevefulton writes:

5of 5 Stars

I'm not sure hat "DJCriag" was smoking when reviewed this album, but he is wrong on so many points that his words are simply laughable.

1. The Alarm never treid to be U2 and in fact their sound was os different that these types of comparisons actually make no sense. The Alarm sounded like U2 in the same way most bands from the same era sounded the similar (Midnight Oil, Big Country, Simple Minds, Icicle Works, etc). The Alarm are only really comparedto U2 because they toured with them often, and because U2 was indpired by the songs the Stand and Blaze of Glory to alter THEIR sound into what they became famous for. If anyone stole anything, Bono stole Mike Peters' career.

2. Guerills Tactgics is full of songs about "fighting" because Mike Peters was fighting cancer when we wrote it. Duh.

Guerilla Tactics is a great album, but don't take my word for it. Here are some other great reviews from around the web:

"...In fact, the disc is full of classic riffs and grooves, solid from first to last. Guerilla Tactics is the sound of a band in full control of its faculties, playing off their strong pasts to create a satisfyingly contemporary offering to the gods of rock. Kudos to Mike Peters and Co. for neither reinventing themselves nor resting on their laurels, but rather giving listeners of all ages something to hold on to. Let's hope for more instant classics from the Alarm in years to come. A."
http://www.playbackstl.com/content/view/7787/157/

"Lyrically subtle, shining with muscular finesse, and combining the band's past, present, and future, this is an impressive Alarm album"

http://popvulturephil.blogspot.com/2008/07/waking-up-to-alarm.html

"...an ultra lean offering spilling over with insistency and justified angst that not only symbolizes the singer's rebirth, but The Alarm's latest artistic strides."

http://www.concertlivewire.com/alarmcd.htm

"This is one of the best albums by the band - stripped back and in your face just like the early years. Mike Peters and the band have done it again! ****1/2 "

http://www.hotdigits.co.uk/cgi-bin/diary2/journal?user=jason

Jul 12, 2008 22:07:21

Review 3 of 3

DJCraig writes:

1of 5 Stars

In the eighties, The Alarm tried sooo hard to be U2 but could never quite measure up. Where Bono could be overblown as well as profound, Mike Peters just came across as bombastic.

Now the mimicry continues. Only this time it is The Clash they are imitating on their latest release, "Guerilla Tactics". "Three Sevens Clash" has a fast punk tempo and hard edged guitar with lead singer Mike Peters doing his best Joe Strummer imitation. "Alarm Calling" is so close to "London Calling", not only in name but in beat and guitar riff, it borders on bad parody. "Right Now" is the album's obligatory stab at reggae.

All in all, this sounds less like a group collaboration and more like Mike Peters' own vanity release. The lack of depth and vision being compensated for by over-the-top pleading to "join the fight", is signature Alarm. The catchy hooks of past Alarm songs are few here.

<a href="http://www.djcraig.net/the80s">DJ Craig</a>

Jul 9, 2008 10:42:40